THE BOOKE OF SIMPLES.

FIrst of al, my frende Hilarius, bicause I haue no small griefe in my breast, Azarabaccha or w [...]de Nar­dus. I shall desire you, to shewe me the nature of an herbe called Asaron, which I trust will help me by the way of vomit.

PLinius remembring this herbe lib. xj. cap. xiij. and lib. 21. cap. 6. among al other flowers or herbes (saith he) it is vtterly refused, Azarabaccha is br [...]ader in Italy, then heere in Eng­lande. & not worthy to bee preferred a­mong pleasaunt Garlands, or sweete Nos [...]gaies, bi­cause of the basenesse, and bitternesse of his nature. In forme saith he, it is not vnlike vnto Iuie leaues: notwithstanding it is rounder, softer, and broder: it is mutch like vnto Vngula, called Foales foote. Dios­corides with whom none hath euer bene comparable hetherunto, for the excellent inuention, and know­ledge of herbes, lib. 1. cap. ix. sayth that the leaues bee of the foresayd forme. And is so hote, that it doth vehemently bite the tongue, but in vertue it pro­uoketh vrine, helpeth the dropsie, and painfull ache of the huckle bone called Sciatica. Six dragmes of the rootes of Asaron, sodden in sweete water, the same water drunken will draw forth the termes in women. Asaron prouo­keth termes▪ & helpeth Scia­tica. Galen lib. 6. sim­pli▪ medi. speaking of the rootes of Asaron saith, they be like to Acorus, but y ^t is marueilous it should so be: for Acorus will not prouoke strong vomites, as Asaron will. Therefore Dioscorides hath sayd the truth, and Mesue sayth, that Asaron hath the vertue of Elleborus, to purge both vp & downe, Chol­ler▪ and fleume, which Acorus cannot do so: it is hot, and dry in the thirde degree. In Latin it is called Vulgago, it prouoketh vrine, clenseth the matrix, Asaron doth help the Liuer and stomacke. helpeth the liuer from all grie [...]e, Raynes, Stomack, Belly, and Splene. &c. in the laude thereof, hauing these vertues as I haue sayd from Dioscorides, and Mesue, Marcus Aemilius affirmeth the same, saying: Asaron in Greke, Vulga­go in Latin, heate, & dry in the iij. degree, prouoketh U­rine, and pur­geth termes menstruoli & taketh awaye the paynes of the Liuer.

Here haue three notable learned men, declared the vertue of Asaron. Fur­thermore, if the iuyce of sixe leaues, bee strayned with a pinte of Whale, spe­cially of Goates milke, and drunke in the morning: This Drinke in Som­mer, will cast forth yellowe Choller, and vnnaturall Fleume. For in Som­mer vomets ought to be taken, to clense the vpper partes, as the lower mē ­bers be purged, by electuaries in Winter. Furthermore, 20. Leaues do seene in iniust on, but other wayes three, sower, or fiue do suffice, xxx. greene leaues steeped in newe Wine all the night, and strained in the morning, drinke this against all the aboundaunce of humours in the Breast, or precordial partes, in this maner. Powre this wyne into a close pot, with a peece of fat Porke, and seeth the same: then let the Pacient eate of the Porke, and then drinke [Page] the Wyne, or els the Wine may be drunke after the Porke, simply diluted or steeped all the night with the leaues, and neuer to be sodden wyth y ^e Porke. This will helpe the Iaundice, Asaron good agaynst Dropsie. Fe­ [...]ers. and frensie. and if it be drunke of any body, which hath a Tercian beinge first digested: and specially not on the sicke day, it will cleane deliuer from the sayd Tercian: in the beginninges of Hydropsies, Tim­pani [...]s, Quotidians, greene Sicknesse, Quartaynes, Wormes, and swellinge in the Stomack, there is no better reamedy, than to drinke this, as in the maner aforesayde: For a weake frantike Brayne, comming of an extreme colde, when Melancholy is placed in the māsion of reason, through whych, the principall Senses be obscured and darkened: shaue the Moulde of the heade, and washe the same with Wyne, wherein Calamintes, Rosemary, Lig­num Aloes, and Asaron haue bin sodden, and then anoynt the heade wyth the oyles of Maces, Mintes, and Asaron warme, purgyng the heade wyth Pilles of Hierae simplex, and abstayning from sutch meates, as wyllingen­der Melancholy, or make exhalation, or Smoake vp into the Brayne. The iuyce of Asaron tempered wyth Nill, The Arabi­ans call that Nill whych wee name Visc [...]m or Missiltowe Lib, primo Paradox. Cap. xxvj. called Missiltow, and strayned wyth a little Rosewater, will cleanse the darke sight of the Eyen, and make theym cleare. And thus I ende of herbe Asaron, which hath vertue agaynst Choller: would God it had the like effect, to clense Disdayne, rankor, & ma­lice, so that grace, that most precious herbe, might bee replanted agayne in eche mans breast, which the Deuill hath supplanted through pryde.

What is Asplenon, called Scolopendrion, or Citrache, and Hemionitis, lea­ued like Dragons, and Phyllitis, called Hartes tongue, good for?

Asplenon good for the Splene. TO this herbe Asplenon, no herbe may be compared, for his sin­gular vertue, to helpe the sicknesse, or griefe of the Splene, the place of Melancholy. It is called Scolopendrion, of a speckled Worme wyth many feete. Thys herbe is a small Ferne, grow­ing among stones, neyther hauing stalke, flower, or seede: the leaues bee yellowe by neath, and greene aboue. There is an other herbe of the same vertue, Hemionitis leaued like Dragons. for the splene called Hemionitis, whose leaues be mutch like Dragons, with many smal rootes: these sayd heroes dye not, & bee hoate in the first, and dry in the second degree. Goodly Sirupes are made of theym for the Splene: Diosco. lib. 3. Capi. 134. they be very good in decoction for y ^e same: if one do drinke of this herbe sodden in Uineger, by the space of .40. dayes, it hath vertue to consume y ^e splene: this herbe hath vertue to help the Iaundice, stone, strā ­gury, Galen. lib. 5. S [...]. medica. Capi. xij. hicket, or winde, and Capper barkes, Tamarice rootes, Scolopendrion, & Scilla sodden by art together, will help the Splene. There is an herb called Phyllitis, or Hartes tongue, growing in darke places, which is partly of the nature of the sayde herbes, which hath singular vertue, both for man and beast, to be drunke agaynst poyson, and bloudy flixes, or flowing of termes immoderat in Women. But many now a dayes, haue sutch passions of the Splene Cancred with melancholy, The splene­ticke loue. corrupted with disdayne, and with gol­den wordes, louinge onely from the Splene, and not from the Heart, that they geue eche other the curtesy of the tongue, without the consent of the [Page 2] heart: and thus I conclude of heartlesse Tongue, and Hartes tongue, the one of comfort, the other of decay. Lingua fallax non amat veritatem, Prouerb. 27. d▪ & os lubri­cum operatur ruinas.

What is the vertue of Wormewodde? that bitter herbe called Absynthium?

Absinthium is a common herbe: it is of diuers kinds, as Ponticum, Wormewood. and Romanum. &c. it is hoate in the first and drye in the seconde, and it is very bitter, and being dryed, kepeth clothes from wormes and mo­thes, and the Sirupes thereof eaten before wine, preserueth Men from dronkēnesse: if it bee sodden in Uyneger▪ it will helpe the sores that breedes in the Eares: beeinge layde warme vppon it: it is to bee drunke a­gaynst swellinge of the Stomacke. And Ophthalmia whych is a Sycke­nesse of the Eyes, is greatly helped wyth Wormewodde▪ Sore eares. if it bee stamped and made luke warme wyth Rosewater, For the Eyes and put into a cleane Walnut shell: the Syrupe healeth the blouddy Fluxe bounde to the Belly: Blouddy flux it doth helpe a colde Stomacke, if it bee drunke .x. dayes, Colde Sto­mackes. euery morninge two spoonefull of the Syrupe: it is also good agaynst the Dropsy. And thus sayth Auicen, Fygges, Cockle. Wormewood, and Niter stamped together, Dropsies. and made in a Playster, is good agaynst the dysease of the Splene, Auicen. lib. 2. and also killeth Wormes in the Belly, vsed in the foresayd maner: Simp. 2, one dragme of the Pouder may bee drunke at once in Wyne: For y ^e splene. it hath many goodly vertues, as the Wyne thereof beinge drunke, agaynst Dropsyes, coldnes of the Stomacke, Wynde, Swellinges: Wormewood hath many vertues. if a handefull bee sodden in .viij. pounde of cleane Water or Wyne, in a vessell of Syluer, Glasse, or Stone, putting in sweete Calamus, Cynamon, the flowers of Cassia, Squinance, Spikenarde, and Dates of eche. ℥.iiij. beaten all together and sodden, as is aforesayd: or els these thinges put in a vessell of new Wyne wyth a lin­nen bagge, and so kept close .ij. monethes, and afterwarde dronke of them that haue eyther the yellow Iaundice, paynes in the Raynes, lothesomnesse of the Stomacke, stopping of termes, swelling after meate, continuance of Uomites, colde passions of the heart. &c. this vertue hath Wormewood Wyne sayeth Dioscorides, libro qum. Cap. 40. Furthermore gather a. l i. of Wormewood leaues, and stampe them in a Morter of stone, and then put vnto the same. l i.iiij. of the best whyte Sugar, and so beate them togea­ther vntill they be come to one substance, keepe this in a close Pot or Glasse. And this is the vertue thereof, sayth that well learned Man Matthiolus, A goodly me­dicen for Hy­dropsie. it helpeth the Dropsy, if the Pacient eate euery day of thys halfe an ounce .iij. houres before meate, and with this I haue knowen many holpen, saith hee, and as for the vertue of the syrupe of Wormewoode, it shall come in his place accordingly.

What is the vertue of Anisseede?

IT is much lyke vnto Fenell seede, and is called Romayne Fenell, Galen de sim. Openeth the Raynes. it is warme and sweete, and hoate in the second, and dry in the third degree: [Page] the newe Seedes be best, it engendreth vitall Seede, if openeth the stop­pyng of the Raynes and Matrix, beynge dronke wyth Ptisanes or cleane temperate Wyne: thys herbe or seede is comfortable in sweete compoun­ded medicines or in pouder for shortnes of breath, & sorenesse of the lunges: and also is good to be sodden in Ptisanes, made of Barly, to be drunke in the Feuer Quotidiane bred of Flegme: it ingendreth Milke in the breasts drunke wyth sweete Wyne or Mylke: it prouoketh vryne, maketh sweete breath, and is good agaynst the Collike or wynde of y ^e great Guttes, being dronke wyth good whyte Wyne and Sugar, and also stoppeth the whites whych runneth oftentymes from the bodies of Women: the pouder there­of, Tamarix. wyth the pouders of Fenell, Gallingale, Spicknarde, Tamarix, Nut­megges, and Graynes of Paradice, called Cardamomum, tempered with Wheate flower, A good reme­dy for the rū ­ninge of the Raynes. water and red Wyne, and so baked in manchets or cakes, is most holsome to be eaten of them which haue the running of the Raines, wasting of Nature, moyst Dropsyes, or of them in whom the humour of flegme doth greatly abounde, through humidity, wynde, or colde, and thys was proued to helpe a Lady whych was sicke of a Timpany, and was syr Thomas the Baron Hiltons wyfe, wythin the Byshopprike of Duresme, whych vsed thys Breade during one halfe yeare, and also once a moneth was purged with holsome Electuaries accordingly, and bloud letting: and thus I conclude of Amsseede the best whereof commeth from Egypt.

What is the vertue of a Mouse eare, whych is lyke the eare of Mouse, and full of hayre, in forme mutch lyke the eare of a Mouse?

AN herbe commonly knowen, colde and moyst in the fyrst degree as Galen sayth, a decoction of this herbe sodden in water wyth su­gar, Falling sick­nesse. is good agaynst the Falling sicknesse, being oftentimes drunk and a leafe thereof put into the Nose, it wyll prouoke sternutati­on or neesing, Neesing, whych wonderfully doeth cleanse the vaynes: and sodden in whyte Wyne, Ptisane or Borage water, wyth Sugar candy, thys is good agaynst paynes in the Throate, Mouse eare helpeth the Throate. called Angina, and Dioscorides writeth but lit­tle of thys herbe. And Galen sayth, in the .vij. lib. of Simples, that it is dry in the second degree: and it groweth in May vppon Hylles, Meddowes, and Waysides, sayth Matthiolus vpon Dioscorides. Furthermore if it be stam­ped wyth Madder, and the great Plantein rootes, & an herbe called She­perdes purse, and so sodden in red Wyne and strayned out, and so put into a little drynke warme, thys is also good agaynst the blouddy Fluxe, or a bro­ken Uayne wythin the Body of one, Agaynst the blouddy flixe. whych hath fallen into some deepe place, and this was proued by a yonge man dwelling in Newcastel, which fel into a deepe Coale pit, whose outward woundes were healed by an aū ­cient Practicioner called Michell a Frenchman, who also is cunninge to helpe his owne countrey disease, Michell the Chyrurgian of Newcastle that now is to commonly knowen here in England (the more to be lamented) but yet dayly increased, whereof I en­tende to speake of in the place of the Poxe.

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What is the vertue of Garlyke?

GArlyke is very hoat and dry in the fourth degree, Garlike. it trou­bleth the Stomacke of Cholorike men, it is hurtfull to the Eyes, and Heade, it encreaseth drynesse, Prouoketh vryne. Byting of a Snake. Hemeroydes. but it wyll prouoke Uryne, and is good to be laied vpon the byting of a Snake, or Adder, it is good for the Emeroydes, applyed to the sore place being fyrst stampte: if it bee sodden, the stinke thereof is taken from it, Coughes. but the vertue remayneth to be eaten agaynst coughes and payne in the Lunges, it cutteth, and consumeth corrupt Fleume, and bryngeth sleape, it is not good for hoat Men, and Women with Chyldren, Corrupt Fleume. or Nurses geuing Mylke to Chyldren: but Galen calleth it the common Peoples Treacle. If Sanguyne Men eate mutch of it, it wyll make thē to haue redde Faces, but is a speciall remedy agaynst Poyson, Agaynst poyson. and a hoate Playster applyed to the biting of a mad Dogge, made of Garlyke, helpeth it: if it be drunke it killeth Wormes in the Belly. For Tothach And Garlyke stamped wyth Mastike, and put into the mouth, doth aswage the Dolour of the Teeth. Garlyke dryed or burnt into Pouder, To increase hayre. and tempered with Hony and Beares Grease, is good to anoynt a baulde heade to recouer hayre: and all thys and more reporteth Dioscorides, whych excelled in herbes. Pli­nius reporteth, if it be stamped and made in a Gargarisme, it healeth the Angina, it helpeth the Throate, wyth Oyle of Quinces and so warme ap­plyed to the Belly it is good agaynst the Collicke, and the blouddy Fluxe. Newe Ale, and Garlyke, killeth Wormes to be drunke: A medicine for the fistulo. it is good to bee eaten agaynst the Falling euill. And Garlike healeth Fistulaes tempered wyth Pitche, Brimstone and Rosen, made hoate in a Tente. These with sutch lyke vertues do Plinius, Aetius, Galen. &c. reporte: but it is a grosse kynde of Medycine, very vnpleasaunt for fayre Ladyes, and ten­der Lylly Rose colloured Damselles, whych often tymes preferre sweete breathes before gentle Wordes: but both would do very well.

What is the vertue of Hony, the Fruictes of Bees labour, and their Sommers trauell?

AVERHOIS sayth, Auerhois. 5 Simeon Sethi. Hony is hoate and dry in the se­cond degree, and doth clense very mutch, and is a me­dicinable meate, most chiefly for olde Men, and Wo­men, Ill for cholle­rike persons. for it doth warme them and conuerteth in theym to good bloud. It is not good for Chollericke persons, because of the heate and drynesse: they do greatly erre that say Hony is hoate, and moyst, but if it bee claryfi­ed from hys Waxe, and drosse, and kept in a close vessel, there is nothynge liquid vpon the earth that remayneth lenger. And thys [Page] precious Iewel Hony hath bin euer more praysed, for it will conserue and keepe any fruit, Hony is an heauenly dewe. herbe or roote, or any other thing that is put into it, an ex­ceeding long tyme. Plinius wryteth of a Monster which was long kept in Hony in Claudius dayes. Merueylous is the worke of God, Hony being an heauenly dewe that falleth vpon flowers and leaues as Auicen sayth, Auicen. Can. 2. cap. 504. and is neither Iuyce of leaues nor fruicts, but only the heauenly dewe, where­vnto the Bees in Sommer in due tyme do resorte and gather the sayd Hony, Bees be an example vnto vs, both for loue and wor­kinge in the cōmō wealth. and lay it vp in store, in theyr curious houses builded, whereas they dwell together in most goodly order. O Bees, Bees, how mutch happier are you than many wretched men, which dwell neuer together in vnity and peace, but in continuall discorde, and vnqui [...]tnes, as Virgill sayth: En quo discordia ciues perduxit miseros? Virgill. Beholde whither discorde hath broughte wretched Cityzens. But now to speake of the most excellent vertues of Hony, New Hony. it is good in the meates of theym that be Fleumatike. Hony newly taken out of the Combes is partly laxatiue, & clarified Hony doth binde, & dry vp Fleume, Clarified Ho­ny doth binde and kepe the bodies of Fleumatike and olde persons from corruption. The best Hony is gathered in the Spryng tyme, the seconde in Sommer, but that which is gathered in Winter is ill, and hurtfull. One parte of Hony, and some parte of water sodden together vntill the Froth be all scommed of, An healthfull drinke for Sommer. and when it is colde, kept in a close stone Pot, this drinke (sayth Galen) is holsome for Sommer, it clenseth the Lunges, and preser­ueth the body in health. Oximel simplex, and Compos [...]tum, be made with Ho­ny, Pandect. cap. 347. and so be many mo thynges, whych be of great vertue. Also the auc­thour of the Pandect, sayth y ^t Hony poured into a new wound y ^t eftsoones it clenseth and maketh it whole. Hony mingled wyth a little Salte, and poured warme into the eare, killeth Wormes that breede there: The same also killeth Lyce, if Childrens heads be anoynted therewith. Rub young Chyldrens Gummes with cleane Hony euery day and it will easely cause their Teeth to grow. Hony mingled wyth Oyle of Roses, and so drunke incontinently, wyll cause one to vomit whan he hath eaten any venemous thinge, as rotten Moushromes, called Fungi. &c. Also Gargarismes and Sup­positories be made of Hony, the one doth cleanse the Throate, and the other doth relaxe the Belly. Serpigo. Cost. To cure Serpigo. There is an infection in the skynne, through the cor­ruption of the Lyuer, whych is called Serpigo, oftentymes in the Paulme of the hand, chiefly in the right hand, specially in Chollerike persons▪ whych is helped with Hony mingled with Coste, and anoynted warme euery day twice. To clense the Face. Also the distilled Water of Hony hath vertue to make cleane the skinne of them whose Faces be vncleane: but most chiefly if it be stilled wyth stronge Uineger, Mylke, and the Urine of a Boy, and so wyth a Spunge washe the Face to bedward, and let it dry in of it selfe. The good­ly Oyntment called Vnguentum Aegiptiacum, whych clenseth all corrupt hu­moures, and wounds being rotten wythin, the chiefe thing in this Oynt­ment is Hony: it is marueylous that they whych vse to eate Hony dayly, & dayly anoynt their Stomackes wyth Oyle of Wormewood, should either dy sodenly, or lyue paynefully, or be euell colloured in their Faces. The people of Wales doe vse to drynke Mede, Welchmens drynke. and Metheglyne, and vnder [Page 4] Heauen there is no fayrer people of complexion, nor cleaner of nature, To encrease Hayre. A­noynte the head being new shauen with Beares grease and Hony mingled together, and it preserueth the hayre from falling. Hony of Roses is a good­ly Medicine, outwardly in woundes, and inwardly clenseth fleume, mun­difieth the Stomacke, and openeth the mouth of the vaynes, and also is good to put in the Eyes to clense them.

I Did neuer here any thing so greatly commended as thou hast commen­ded Hony: if it be true that thou hast spoken, there be but fewe thinges may be compared to it, for the excellent vertue of it.

BE not in doubt of the truth thereof, for the best Auc­thours haue taught me, Exodus. and dayly experience mooueth mee, thus mutch to report of Hony: I ought to thinke no shame thereof. In asmutch as the God of Heauen, & Earth, maker of all Creatures, did giue hys people of Israel no greater blessing than a lande whych did flow wyth Mylke, and Hony. And often tymes amongest y ^e Blessinges of GOD, sweete Hony. is rehersed. The Prophet Dauid in the Psalmes, doth often name Hony, Psalmes. and the Hony Combe, makinge a comparison beetweene it and the woorde of God. In some of the holy Sacrifices, Hony was brought in for an Offering, before the Lord GOD into hys holy Temple, Iudic. 14. the strong Nazareth of GOD Iudge of Israell. That mighty Prynce Sampson, loued well Hony, as appeareth after he had slayne the Lyon, he did eate the Hony whych hee founde in hys Carcasse, so did hys Father, and his Mother eate of the same Hony. It was as a deuine Omen of the Wysedome and learning that after­ward came vnto Plato, whē in his Cradel, Bees brought Hony vnto his Mouth. Who was greater among men then S. Ihon Baptist? What was his most foode? it was wylde Hony. How many pleasaunt verses hath Virgill wrytten vppon Bees and Hony? Plini. lib. 11. Cap. 9. who euer did excell Plinius se­cundus, in the nature of Creatures, and as it playnly appearteh in hys .xj. booke, he declareth of a worthy man called Aristomachus, who so wonder­fully loued Bees: and in the same booke, sayth he, Xenophon, in his booke of Housholde. the Bees haue many Kynges wyth small Coronets on their heades: about whom the great ag­men or swarme doth cluster and fleeth into the fieldes, and commeth home in order, bringing their treasure wyth them: the elder Bees doe builde wythin the Hyues, The proper­tye of a good huswyfe. hauing therein a Mystresse or Queene to set them to woorke, whych neuer goeth from home, but placeth euery thing in order: the younger do bring their Stuffe to the Hyue: none of them be idle, euery one of them hath a house to dwell in .vj. cornered in fashion: they wil suffer no filthines to be amongst them, nor straungers to dwel within their Citty or cōmonwealth. They also punish them with stynginge, that hurt their [Page] Prynces, Bees mayntayne no strā ­gers, for they bee not profi­table. and they haue fore knowledge of weather whē it is fayre & foule. Also they haue sences of smelling, for if any of them be lost in the fielde, they follow their fellowes by the sweete ayre, they be scant perfit of hearyng▪ but yet as appeereth they heare, when they muster at the soundes of Basens: their greatest delight is in Tyme, and Balme, and therefore about Athens is the best Hony in the Worlde, as Plini sayth, and in the Islande called Ca­lydna, Plin lib. xj Cap. xij. and also in Meleta: would God, sayth he, that we had the Hony in the same nature that it falleth from the heauens. Yea rather would to God that Idle people would take Bees for an example to laboure, and Sub­iectes to obey▪ &c. What shall I speake more of the properties of Bees, and of their good natures, prouidence and cunning? nothinge els Marcellus, but these simple Uerses following.

Now haue you well declared what Hony is: is there also any vertue in the Combes, or Waxe?

[Page 5] GALEN sayth, in the .vj. booke of Simples, Waxe is good for Plaisters, not only in drying, but also in that per accidens, it moi­steth, and is vsed for outward Medicines, but not for inwarde and Dioscorides reporteth that Waxe doth mollify and warme y ^e body, Dioscorides libr. secundo▪ Cap. lxxvij. and .x. graynes wayght dronken with the syrupe of Plā ­tein is good for the blouddy fluxe: it also dryeth the Mylke in Womens breastes: and to conclude, there be but few Emplaysters y ^t can be without the helpe of Waxe. It hath also bin abused in Churches, Chaples, and Tē ­ples, offered by the ignoraunt, before the blynde.

I doe know Sage by name, because it doth grow in my Garden and is vsed in my Kitchen, but Chryste doth know, the vertue thereof is hidden from mee.

THys noble herbe is called Elclisphacon, Saluia, or Sage, Sage. and as it should appeare by Theophrastus there be two kindes of Sage, the one of the Garden, whych is rough, Lib. vj. Cap. ij. de Plan. Libr. iij. Dioscorides long and broade leaued, whych sayth Matthiolus, I suppose to be the Female herbe: the other Sage whych is shorter, and nar­rower, wyth two smale eares in the beginning of y ^e leaues, whych the sayd Theophrastus calleth Sphacelo, Lib. 6. Simp. whom Matthiolus clepeth the Male herbe, and of thys groweth great plenty in Italy in the toppes of Mountaynes, in the noble Countreys both of Apulia, and Calabria: so doth there almost in euery Garden in England. Thys herbe is hoat & dry, sayth Aetius, so sayth Galen, and some notable Practicioners do say, that perfume of Sage doth stoppe the immoderate Fluxe menstruall. Agrippa dyd call thys the hory herbe, because it was so good to Women, not only in expul­sing euill matter from the Matrix, but also in retayning the vitall seede of Generation, whereby Conceptione is made perfect. The Iuyce of Sage helpeth Conception. If a Woman drinke the Iuyce thereof wyth a little Salte, and Suger sodden together, foure dayes before, and after the vse with hir husbande, geuing the man the lyke quantity, before the time of procreation, w ^tout doubt Conception followeth. is sayd, somtyme there was so great a pestilence in a Citty of Aegypt, that through the Poyson thereof few were left a lyue: but when the Plague was ceased, the younge Women were compelled to drynke the Wyne, or Iuyce of Sage, through whose vertue they were conceyued wyth Chyl­dren, hauinge the helpe of Man: that in the ende, the Citty was reple­nished agayne, and filled wyth People of theyr owne Generation. Sage, sayth Orpheus. ʒ.iiij. mingled wyth cleane clarified Hony, and eaten of an empty Stomacke, To stoppe bloud rūning at y ^e mouth. doth incontinently stop the bloud that commeth from the Breast, Stomacke, or Lunges, breakinge out of the Mouth wyth cruent Uomites. There is a Sycknesse wythin the Body, called Tabes, whych is a great corruption of humoures, throughe foule Matter, and Bloude myngled togeather, whose beginnynge comes from the Heade through a continuall Rheume, and doth Apostumate, and wounde the [Page] Lunges: through whose putrifaction by little, and little, all the Members of the body consume, through drynesse, leannesse, and a continuall coughe, with paynes in the Breast, An excellent Pill agaynst Apostumatiō of y ^e Lunges, Rheume, or consumption, which helped Bullem the Aucthour of this Booke. and shortnesse of the Wynde: the remedy there of sometime hath bin with Sage in this maner. Take Spicknard, Gin­ger, of ech. ʒ.ij. seede of Sage. ʒ.viij. dryed, beaten fyne in Pouder, wyth the foresayd Spyces, and. ʒ.xij. of longe Peper in lyke maner, and. ʒ.j. of olde Aster, and the Iuyce of Sage, and so make your Pill in a cleane Morter, and take euery Mornyng fasting. ʒ.j. of thys, & asmuch at night drinkinge after it pure cleane Sage water: and this is the best Pill that euer I did knowe, and helped mee in a great sicknesse in Suffolke, where sometyme I dwelled. Thys herbe also prouoketh vryne, clenseth phlegme, expulseth wynde, dryeth vp the Dropsy, helpeth the Paulsie, strengthneth the Sinewes, To kill Can­ker and quēch Robin good-fellowes Fe­uer. and purgeth bloud: If it be sodden in running water, Roch Alum, and Woodbinde leaues, it killeth the Canker in the Mouth, and al­so quencheth the great heate and burninge, stynke, filthe, and matter that oftentimes commeth through corruption of nature, or meretrix maner, and doth chaunce into the Secret places of Men or Women, whych is helped thys way, puttinge in a little of the Pouder of Aristolochia rotunda: foras­mutch as it dryeth, it is put into Pygges, whych be most moyst of nature to dry vp their humidity or moysture wythall, whych els be euill for Fleg­matike persons. Auicen. 3. trac. cap, 1. The incomparable vertue of thys herbe is excellent, that the great learned Fathers of Salem, did wryte these wordes to the late fa­mous Prynce Kyng Henry the eyght, in the laude thereof saying. Curmori­tur homo, cui saluia crescit in horto? Inquiringe why mortal Men should dye, whych haue Sage in their Gardens? But because no herbe hath power to make Men immortall, they say furthermore, Contra vim mortis, non est me­dicamen in hortis. And thus I do conclude of thys vertuous herbe Sage. Whose Wyne beynge dayly drunke, is good agaynst the fallinge sycknesse. And the common Sage Ale, ryghtly brewed wyth Sage, Squinance, Spicknarde, Calamus, Fenell seedes, and Betony, is very holsome for the Flegmaticke, Dropsy, wynde Collike, and rawnesse of the stomack with indigestion.

What be the vertues of Onyons in their kyndes?

THey doe make thyn the Bloude, and brynge sleape, they be not good for Cholericke men. Onions pro­uoketh sleepe. Longe Ony­ons. The longe Onyon is more vehemente then the rounde, and the Redde more then the Whyte, the Gray more then the Greene, and the rawe more then the sodden, or preserued in Salt, although they cause sleape very paynefull and troublous, Greene sicke­nesse. To cleanse y ^e Stomacke. & bee hoat in the thyrd degree, but they warme and cleanse the Stomacke, brynge good Col­lour to the Face, and then they muste bee good for the neewe Greene Sycknesse, and doe very well prouoke Uryne, and beynge roasted, and warme applyed to the Paynefull harde Emeroydes, eftesoones dooe [Page 6] open them (if vineger warme be put to them) and being cleane pilled or ta­ken from the ouer rinde and Skin, and cut of both the endes, Onions doe heale the E­meroydes. and cast into water, remayning in it one howre, and slicesed: these do take away the ve­hement sharpnesse, that else woulde hurt the Eyes, and Head, For byting of a Dogge. and beinge applied with Hony, Rue, and Salt, all incorporated together to the wound bitten of a Dogge, do heale it soone. Leekes purge the bloude in Marche, and payne the head, and be not greatly praysed, for their Iuyce is euill, Leekes. sayth Dioscorides. The heade beinge anoynted with the Iuyce of them, keepeth hayre from fallinge, Hayre from fallinge. there is much variety of this Onion amonge Wry­ters, sayth Plinius, but this shall suffice, for vs Englishmen. There be great plenty of good Onions that be brought from Flaunders, Where plenty of Onions do growe. called saynct Ho­mars Onions. So there bee very many growing in Holland in Lyncolne­shyre, and in the Towne of Duresme in the North countrey.

What is the vertue of Fenell?

IT hath power to warme in the thirde degree, and dry in the fyrst, and maketh sweete the Breath: Foeniculum. Sweet brea­thes. For the Eye­sight. the Seede eaten of­tentimes vppon an empty Stomacke, doth helpe the Eye­syght. The Rootes cleane washed bee very holsome in Po­tage, and good in Ptisants. The greene or red tufts, grow­inge vppon the Stalkes, sodden in Wyne, Potage, or Ale, To breake [...] Stone. Encreaseth Mylke. To washe Feete. helpe the Bladder, Raynes, and breake the stone, encreaseth Mylke in Wo­mens Breastes, and Seede of Generation. It is good to vse Endyue, or such lyke wyth it, because it is very hoate, and it is very good to washe ones Feete to bedwarde. It is good in Barbars Bathes, and washinge Water, wyth Balme, and Bayes. The syrupe is very good and wholsome, An excellent medicine of Fenel, for the Raynes and Bladder. it helpeth a Flegmatike Stomacke. And Fenell, Parsely, & Watercresses, of ech like quantity stamped together, pouring white Wyne to them, and the crummes of Barly breade, standinge all one night in a stone Morter, the nexte day being strayned, Clarifyed, and drunke, this will cleanse the Raynes from Grauell, Stone, and Choller, For fat folks. and cause one to make much Water that hath the Strangury. Two kindes of Fenell. It is good for fat Men to open the ves­sels, as Uaynes, and Guttes. There bee two kyndes of Fenell, one Mara­thrum, whych is best: the other Hippomarathrum whych is Wylde, the Seede hath greater vertue then the roote.

What is the vertue of Purslan?

COlde in the thirde, & moyst in the second degree. Purslan is an herbe of a singuler ver­tue to coole, or quenche Choller. If it be stamped with steeped Barly, it maketh a good plaister to coole the Head, Eyes, & Ly­uer, in Agues, and hoate inflāmations. To eate of it, stoppeth fluxes, & quencheth burning Choller, extinguisheth venereous lust, & greatly helpeth y ^e [Page] Raynes, and Bladder, and will kill rounde Wormes in the Belly: and comforteth the matrixe, against hoate choller, and termes abounding. And the iuyce is good to drinke in hoat Feuers: it may be preserued with Salt, and then it is very good with roasted meates. Plini saith, it is supposed to make the sight blunt and weake: An example of Purslan. Further he sayth that in Spayne, a great noble man, whom he did know, did hang this Purslane roote on a Thred, commonly about his neck, which was troubled of a Vuula, and was healed therewith.

What is the vertue of Dragons?

THe iuyce of Dragons, sayth Dioscorides, dropped into y ^e eyes, doth clense them, Of Dragons which helpe a­gainst the Pe­stilence. & causeth mutch brightnesse vnto the eyes of them, which haue dark sights. The Water of this herbe, hath vertue against the pestilence, if it be drunk bloud warm with Uenice Triacle, or Mithridatum. The sauour of thys herbe is hurtefull to women newly conceyued with Chylde. Plini sayth, that who so beareth this herbe vpon them, no venemous Ser­pent will doe them any harme. This herbe is hoate & dry, and being sodden in Wyne, it healeth a kibed heele, called Pernio. And this herbe being bru­sed, and applied with Plantein, healeth a newe wounde.

What is the vertue of Filipendula?

Filipendula hath rounde roots hanging vppon smal fine thredes in the earth. IT is called Filipendula, bicause it hath small round rootes, han­ging vpon it with thredes in the ground, it is an herbe hoate & dry, in the third degree: if it bee sodden in white wyne, & dronk, it drieth vp windy places in the guttes, and clenseth the raines of the backe and bladder. And the pouder drunke in Wyne, is good against the falling euill, and helpeth the yellow Iaundice: the leaues and stalkes sodden in Wyne and drunke, clense the secondes.

What is the vertue of Violettes?

SIMEON SETHI reporteth, that they do help againste hoate inflammations of the Guttes, Uiolets bee great coolers and to cold for the heart. heade, and stomacke, if the cause be of burninge Choler: either the Water, Sirup, or Conserue of the said Uiolets, being eaten or drunke, after the digestion of any hoate passion: but vndoubtedly it offendeth the hart, bicause of y ^e great cold­nes. The sauoure of the Flowers bee pleasaunt. The Oyle that is made of this herbe, hath vertue to reconcile quiete sleepe to theym, which haue greeuous hoate payne in the heade, Good for Coughes and shortwinde. Uiolet water, and cleane Sallet Oyle, of ech one vnce together drunke, clenseth rotten matter in the Stomacke, and Coughes, or payne in the Lunges.

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What is the vertue of white Lillies, and water Lillies called Nimphea.

DIoscorides saythe, that the Oyle of Lillies doeth mollifye the Si­newes, and the mouth of the matrix: y ^e Iuice of Lillies, Uineger, and Hony, sodden in a Brasen vessell, doth make an ointment, to heale both new and old woundes: if the Rootes be rosted, and stamped with Roses, they make an healing plaster agaynst burning of fyre: the same roote Rosted, hath vertue to break a pestilence sore, applied hot vn­to the sore place, and is drye in the first degree. The oyle of Water Lillies, is moyste, souereigne agaynst all hote diseases to anoynt the ardent and hote places, and doth reconcile quiet sleepe, if the forehed be anoynted therewith it is holesome for mad men. The seede and roote sodden in wine, stoppeth the immoderate fluxe menstruall, and the bloudy Flixe, as Dioscorides and Galen say Libro viij Simplicium Medicamento [...]um.

What is the vertue of Chickweede?

ALmost euery ignoraunt woman doth know this herbe, but there be of diuers kindes of it, Anagallis o [...] morsus Gallinae, called Chickweede. they be very good to kepe woundes frō a­postumations, stamped, and applyed vnto them, and draw corrup­tion out of woundes: and sodden with Uineger, do drawe fleume out of the heade if Chickweede be often warme, put into the mouthe, & spit out a­gayne, in the same maner it helpeth the teeth, and sodden in wyne, and so drunke, it wil clense the raynes of the back.

What is the vertue of Sorel, which in the North is called Sower Dockes.

EUery one doth right wel know it, and al they that make green­sauce, but the description, I leaue to Dioscorides, Rumex, [...]apa­thus, or acedu is Sorel, an Sor [...]ll de bois. and Leonardus Fuchsius, not onely in this herbe, but in all other, and to tell the vertue I wil: it is cold and drye, in the seconde degree, it also stoppeth: it is like Endiue in property, because it ouercōmeth Choller, and is much commended. It helpeth the yellow Iaundice, if it be drunke with small wine or ale, and also quencheth burning feuers: to eate of the leaues euerye Morninge in a Pestilence time, is moste holsome, if they be eaten fasting. This herbe doth Dioscorides, Galen and Auicen greately commende, besydes the great learned men of this time.

What is the vertue of Planten or VVaybrede?

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THe greatter Planten is the better, it hath seauen great vaynes, it is cold and drye: Plantago called arnoglosia. the seedes drunke with red wine, or the rootes sod­den therein, stoppe the bloudy flux, likewise the rootes and leaues being sodden with fayre water, or with Burrage water and Suger, and geuen to him y ^t hath an Ague, either Tertian or quarten, two howres before his fit, helpeth him. Prooue this, for thus haue I helped manye, it is verye comfortable for children that haue greate fluxes and Agues, and is a frende vnto the Liuer. This herbe is greatly praysed of the learned wryters. Wa­ter Planten rootes, leaues and buddes be holsome to be dronk agaynst the falling sickenes.

What is the vertue of Camomill?

THis herbe is very hotte, it is drunke agaynst cold windes, and mat­ter beyng in the guttes, the Egiptians did suppose it would help all cold Agues, and did consecrate the same as Galen sayth: also if it bee tempered and strayned into white wyne, and drunke of women ha­uing the child dead within their bodyes, it wil cause present deliuerance: it doth mightely clense the bladder, and is excellent to be sodden in water to to wash the feete, the Oyle is precious, as is declared hereafter.

What is the vertue of Hoppes?

THere be Hoppes which do coole, that be called Lupuli: those that we haue be hoate and dry, Lupulꝰ Salictarius, be [...]oppes bitter, sower, hot, saith old Herballes, and Fuchsius sayth, they clense Fleume, and Choller, and the Water be­tweene the skinne and Flesh. The syrup wil clense grosse raw Fleume frō the guttes, and is good agaynst obstructions. If the Iuice bee dropped in the Eare, it taketh away the stinke of Rotten Sores, the rootes wil helpe the Liuer, and Splene, beinge sodden and drunke, the Beere is very good for Flegmatike men.

What is the vertue of Horehounde?

IT is an herbe hoate and drye, if it be sodden with faire water, Suger or Hony, and strayned, this drink doth clense the stomake from stinking fleume. It is an excelent herbe for women to clense their Monthly terms. Stinkinge fleume. The water of this, is good to helpe them wich haue a moist Reume falling from the head vpon the Lunges, being often drunke, To helpe a moist reume. but it is hurtfull to the bladder & raynes, the syrup therof doth clense the kinges euill. And also put into the [Page 8] eares it doth greatly comforte the hearing, if y ^e eares be troubled with deaf­nes: stamped with honny and applyed to the eies, it clenseth the syght. Kinges euill. To helpe the sight.

What is the vertue of Ueruen. Ueruen.

IT is called the Holy herbe, it drieth and byndeth: if it be sodden with Ui­neger, it helpeth a disease called. S. Anthonies fyre, Wild fyre oftentimes washing the payned place. The leaues of Ueruen, and Roses, To kepe wo [...] des from cor­ruption. and fresh Swynes grease stamped togeather, wil ceasse payne and greefe in euery wound, and wil keepe woundes from corruptinge. It is good for peopel that haue the Tercian, and Quarten Agues, thus saith Dioscorides. Agaynst A­gues. Moreouer he saith the weight of a ʒ, of this herbe w ^t three halfpeny wayghtes of Olibanū, put into ℥.ix. of olde wyne tempered togeather, and drunke forty dayes in this quan­tity fasting, it wil helpe the disease called the kinges euil, To helpe the Kinges euil. or payne in the throate.

What is the vertue of Rice? Rice.

There bee manye opinions concerninge Rice, Auicē, in ij. can. Cap▪ 78. but I shal staye my selfe with the Iudgementes of Auicen. Rice sayth hee, is hotte and drie, & hath vertue to stop the Belly, it doth nourish much, [...]it bee sodden with Milke, qut it ought to be stepped in water an whole night be­fore. If Blaunched Almons bee stamped with Rose water, and strayned into theym, and sodden with Cowes milke, it is verye much nourishinge: the Flower or Meale of Arza or Rise, stoppeth the bloudye flyxe, in drynke or Clister.

What is the vertue of Pease and Beanes▪ Beanes▪

BEanes be more grosser and fuller of wynd, then Pease be, and make euill matter, except they be wel sodden and but­tered, and so eaten with the whitest Onions that may be gotten, because they be hard of digestion: how be it they do make fatte, and partly clense, To make fat. yet they are not compared with tender white Peason, wel sodden and buttered, or els made in pottage with garden Mintes, and grosse Pepper which haue vertue to clense the raynes of the Backe and bladder, Ther is a place in Suf­folke called Orfort, where Pease grow on the stones, neuer sowen. Lin­telles be of the same vertue. Barly beinge cleane hulled, and sodden with milke, cleane water and Suger, maketh a very holsome and comfortable potage, for whole Cholerick persons, or young people, and this is much v­sed [Page] in the North parts of England and is called Big Keale, and of clean Barly and pure water, Ptisant. is made that excellente water. called Ptisant.

Beates.What is the vertue of Beetes.

Whyte beetesTHere be of two kyndes, and both be prayse worthy. Simeon Sethi wri­teth, that they be hote and drye in the third degre, the white bee the best, Purging the head. they haue vertue to clense, as Niter hath but are of euill iuice: y ^e iuice of this herbe with Honny, applyed into the Nose, do purge the head, so doth the leafe, it is an holsom herbe in pottage, if it be wel sodden, or els noi­some to the stomacke, if it be parboyled and eaten with Uineger, it is good agaynst the stopping of the liuer, Stoppinge of the Liuer. not withstandinge the iuice of this herbe doth stop the belly beyng symplie taken. It is called Bete of Beta, or Ueta the Greeke. B. because of the forme or shape.

Betony.What is the vertue of Betony?

THey be of diuers kindes Leonardus Fuchsius, doth call the sweete Gilo­flowers by the names of Betonye, but hee seemeth to talke of that which is commonly knowen of the people, To kill wor­mes, called the lande Betony, which hath vertue to kil wormes within the belly, & helpeth the Quarten, clenseth the Matrix, For Bruses. and hath vertue to heale the Body within if it be brused: it is of so great effect, if it be sodden with Wormewood in white wine, as to purge Fleume, it is hote in the fyrst degree, and dry in the second.

Sauery.What is the vertue of Sauerie?

IT is hoate and drye in the thirde degree, if the greene Herbe be sodden in water or white wine, Liuer soft. Cold coughs. Dead childrē. and dronke, these be his ver­tues: to make the Liuer so it, to clense Dropsies, cold Coughes, to clense womens diseases, and to seperate the dead child from the mother, as Dioscorides and Galen say: also Germander is not much vnlike in vertue to this herbe.

Mustarde.What is the vertue of Mustard or Sinapium.

PLINIVS doth greatly alow it, saying, that there is nothinge doth pierce more swifter into the brayne then it doth. Honye Uinegar, To Garga­rize the heade. and Mustarde tempered together, is an excellent Gargarisme to purge the head, teeth, and throte. Mustarde is good agaynst al the diseases of the stomacke, or Lunges, wynde, fleume and rawnesse of the guttes, and conduceth foode into the body, Fallinge sick­nes. Palsie. prouoketh vrine, helpeth the Palsie, wasteth the qua [...]ten, dryeth. vp moyst reumes, applyed playsterwise vnto the head. Honye and Mustarde helpeth the coughe, and is good for them that haue the Fallyng sycknesse: And tentes of Uinegar and Mustard put into the nose helpe the Palsye. [Page 9] Notwithstanding the common vse of Mustarde, Euil for the eyes. is a cruel enemye vnto y ^e eyes: many moe vertues haue I read of Mustarde, but the occasion of time hath vnhappely preuented, not onely my large description in this, but also in many other Simples.

What is the vertue of Senetion or Groundesyll? Senetion.

IT is of a mixt temperature, it cooleth and partly clenseth. If it be stam­ped and sodden in water, and drunke with youre Pottage, Hot Coller in y ^e stomake▪ To helpe the eyes. it will purge hoat Choller: this done with Saffron and cold water, stamped and put into the eyes, it wil dry the runninge drops of theym: and prepared [...]laster wise, it helpeth manye greeuous woundes. Dioscorides sayeth, that the heades of Senetion with the flowers, and a little wine and Manna, Dioscorides lib iiij. cap. xcij. For woundes tempered togeather, healeth the woundes, that be in the synewes. The flo­wer of this herbe, hath whyte hayre, and when the wynde bloweth it a­waye, then it appeareth like a Balde headded Man, therefore it is called Senecio.

What is the vertue of Cucummers▪ Cucummers?

THey bee (truely) in the second degre very moyst, and colde the Seedes bee very good to be geuen in hoat sicknesses. The pouder of the same Seedes drunke in cleane Wyne, are good agaynst diuers hoate passions of the Harte, To prouoke vryne, Uomit. Good blood. This Fruite will cause one to make water wel. The roote dryed, and the pouder therof drunke in water and Honye, prouoketh vomit. If they be moderatly eaten, they bringe good bloode. Tempered with Honye, Epinictides▪ and the Eyes there with anoynted they helpe a disease called Epinictidas, which troubleth men with strange syghtes in the Night: the best of this fruite is y ^t which beareth y ^e best seede y ^e sauour of them is holsom. Melons, citruls, Pompeions, Raw herbes▪ & this kind of Pe­pins, or great Apples, be much vsed in England, and are more common thē profitable, because they vse to eat thē raw, Englishmen being born in a tē ­perat region, enclyning to cold, may not without hurt eate raw herbes, rootes, and fruits so plentiful, as many men which be borne far in the South partes of the worlde, which be moste hoate of stomacke: therefore eate these fruits boyled, orels baked w ^t Hony, Peper, and Fenell seedes, or such like: there be an other hoat kynde of bitter Cucummers, which do purge called Colocynthis. The Apple being steeped in Ptisant water, duringe Twelue howres, and so strayned, & drunke in the Morninge halfe a pint, doth purge Melancholy, and Choler adust and vitriall fleume, but it is a verye grosse purgation, but y ^e Trochiskes of Coloquintida are better to purge with. Coloquitide▪ But ʒ.i of the Pouder of Coloquintida sodden with Mirthe and Ote water, & [Page] Honye to a thicknes, maketh a goodly Pil to purge Fleume and choller, it is good in Clisters, Dioscorides. lib. iiij. capit. Clxx. for the same purpose, sodden with vineger, this kept in the mouth, killeth worms in the teeth. The Oyle of this is good to anoint the paynes of the Huckel bone called Sciattica, It also killeth wormes in the Eares: this is moste bitter to the mouth and stomacke, it killeth worms in the Belly, Matthiolus su­per dioscoridē. both in Emplasters and drinke. The Arabians cal this herbe Chandel, but in Laten it is called Cucurbita Syluestris.

Cabage.What is the vertue of Cabage or Brassica?

CAbage is of two properties, of byndinge the Bellye, and ma­kinge laxatiue, Ius Brassicae soluit, cuius substantia stringit. To bind laxa­tiue To clense Le­prosy. Aristote .iij. probl. Auicen .ii. cā ­Rasisiij. Al. the iuice of Cabages, lightlye boyled in freshe Beefe brothe is laxatiue, but the substance of this herbe is hard of digestion, but if it be sodden twyse, the broth of it wil bynde the Belly, if it be tempered with Allume: This herbe hath ver­tue to clense a new Red Leprosye, layd vppon the sore place, in the manner of a Plaster, but to conclude of this herbe, y ^e broth of it hath vertue to keepe a man from drunkennes, as Aristotle, Rasis, and Auicen do report, eaten be­fore meate or drinke. And this is good to make Pottage withall, and is a profitable herbe in a common wealth, which the Fleminges sell deere, but we haue it growing in our owne Gardens, Dioscor. li. 4. if we wold preferre our owne commodity, before ydlenes, and not suffer weedes to growe where herbes should be planted. If Fenegrike and this be sodden plaster wise, it helpeth the Gout, The leaues sodden with Honye, heale vlcers and Cankers, and kil wormes in the Bellye, there bee sundrye kindes of wortes, both Garden, Feelde and Sea, mutche like to each other in vertue. There bee greate plenty growing betweene Albrought and Horthforde in Suffolke vpon y ^e Sea shore.

Rew called Herbe grace.What is the vertue of Rue, or herbe of Grace?

I Tel thee this herbe▪ is very hotte and bitter, and doth burne, because of his hotenes in the third degree. If a little of this Rue be stamped, and sodden in wyne, and drunke, it is an excellēt medicine against Poyson and Pestilence. Roses, Uineger and Riue stamped together, Poyson Payne in the head. and put into a Forhead cloth or Biggē and applyed to the Tēples of the heade, or Forehead, do ceasse greuous pain in the head. And in like maner it helpeth the bytinge of Serpents, and of Dogs, stamped with vineger, many nice people cannot abyde it, cryinge fye it stinks. The sede of this herbe beatē in pouder & put in fresh clarifyed But­ter, Agaynst by­ting of Dogs and serpēts. and Pitche melted together, is good for them to drink that are brused The seede of this Rue beyng dried and beaten into pouder, with y ^e pouders of swete Calamus and long Pepper sodden in white Wine, drunke warme helpeth the wynde in the small Guttes. Buleins experience manye tymes.

[Page 10]What is the vertue of Lettice Lettice.

IT doth mightely encrease Milke in womens brestes, To encrease Milke & therfore it is called Lettice, as Martiall sayth, fyrst shal bee geuen to the vertue and power, to encrease milke in womens breastes eue­ry howre. Comfort a­gaynst hoate cholic [...] in the stomacke. Lettice is an herbe cold and moyst and very comfor­table for a hotte stomacke, bringeth slepe, mollifyeth the bellye, the dryer it be eaten the better it is. I meane, if it be not muche washed in water, addynge cleane Salet Oyle, Suger and vineger to it, it abateth carnal luste: and much vse of it dulleth the sighte. Ill forsight. To abate the Lust. An encrease of seede. Broke bones Coughe. Dioscor. lib▪ ij▪ Cap. cxxxliij. The seede is precious a­gaynst hote diseases, drunke with Ptisantes. There is an herbe called Roc­ket gentle, that partly smelleth like a Foxe, which is very hote, an encrea­ser of seede, this herbe must alwaies be eaten with Lettice. The roote therof sodden in water will draw forth broken bones, and wil helpe the cough in younge children, the seede doth vehemently expel vryne, drunke in white wyne, and killeth woormes: and tempered with an Oxe gaule, doth clense blacke spottes in the face or skin after strypes.

What is the vertue of Mintes? Mintes

MIntes be of two kinds, garden and wild Mintes, Stoppinge of vomits. Repletion. To kill wor­mes. Bytinge of a Dogge. To helpe the Collike. they be hotte vnto the third degree, and drye in the second degree Garden Mintes be best: the pouder of this with the iuice of Pomgranets, stoppeth vomits, helpeth sighing, clen­seth hot choller. Three branches of this sodden with wine doth helpe repleation, beyng drunke fastinge. This iuice tempered with good Triakle, & eaten of children in mor­ninges, wil kil wormes, and stamped with salt, and applyed to the bytyng of a Dogge, will heale it. It is holsome sodden with wyndy meats & Peason &c. and sodden in posset ale with Fenel, it encreaseth vital seede. It is not best for Chollerike complexions but good for Fleumatike and indiffe­rent for Melancholike, and it wil stop bloode, stamped and applyed to the place: the iuice of Mintes bee best to mingle in a medicine agaynst poysō: To make swete brea [...]h. y ^e pouder of Mints are good in pottage to helpe digestiō, and to make swete breath.

What is the vertue of Dandelion, or Lyons teeth▪ Dandelion.

IT is temperate, cold, and drye: The heade. Sowthistell [...]o loa [...]e the· belly. with Roses and Uineger tēpered togea­ther, it helpeth the hed in hotte diseases, the sowthistle called Sonchos hath y ^e same vertue & so hath Cicory: if they be sodden, the loose the belly & quen­cheth heat which burneth in the stomacke, Yellow cho­ler Burning A­gues. and defendeth the head from hot smoking vapoures, and purgeth yellow choller, and rebateth venerous & fleshly heat, & is good to be sodden & dronk in hote burning Agues: though this herbe be commonly knowen and counted of many as a vile wede, yet it is reported of Dioscorides to be an excellent herbe, & is called Lyons teeth.

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Hysop.What is the vertue of Hysope?

AN herbe commonly knowen, growing in gardens, and hoat in the thirde degrre: it hath vertue to make humoures thin and warme: Dioscor lib. 3. sodden with Figges, Rewe, and Hony, in clean water, and drunke, greatly helpeth the sicknes in the lungs old Coughes, Sicknes in the Lunges. Old coughes, Rotten hu­mours. To helpe the Splene. rotten humours, drippinges vpon the lunges, sodden with Eris, and Graynes of Paradice called Cardamomū, it migh­tely purgeth and bringeth good colour. Figges, Salt Nitrum, and Hysope stamped togeather, and applyed to the Splene, helpe it muche, and take awoy the water that runneth betweene the skin and the Flesh: sodden with Oximel it clenseth flewme. Howe bee it, Galen wryteth but little of this herbe in his eyght booke of Simples, Fleume. but sayth that it is drye and hoat in the thirde degree. But this herbe was vsed in the olde Testament, in the old time of the bloudy Sacrifice. And the holy prophet in his. li. Psalm, say­eth vnto almighty God? Sprinkle me oh Lorde with Hysope &c. God grāt vs all to haue such blessed plants of that Hysope in our gardens, whiche haue vertue to heale all sicknesses of the Soule, defyled with synne.

What is the vertue of Wyne?

HIPPOCRATES saythe, of a customable thing commeth lesser hurte than of things not vsed, Hip in ij. lib. Apha [...]i. wherof I gather that they whiche drynke wyne moderatly with measure, it doth profyt them much, and ma­keth good digestion, but those people that vse to drink wine seldome times, be distempered. Digestion. White wyne if it be cleare, is holsome to bee drunke before meate, White wyne. Auerhois in .6. colig. Rasis in li. 26. con. ca. 1. for it preserueth the body and perseth quickly to the bladder, but if it be drunke vppon a ful stomacke, it wil rather make opilation, or stopping of the Meseraikes, because it doth swiftly driue foode downe, before nature hath of himselfe digested it: and the nature of white wine is of lesse warmnesse. Claret wine warmeth the Body. Galen lib. de tue. sani ca. 9. Wine is an ennemy to chil­dren. Red wine corrupteth blood The second wyne is pure Claret, of a cleare Iacint or yellowe colour: this wyne doth greatly norish and warme the body, and it is an holesome wine with meate, and is good for Flegmatike folke, but verye vnholsome for yong children: for Galen sayth Vinum pueris inimicum, because it heateth aboue nature, and hurteth the heade. Nor for them which haue hoate liuers, or paynes in the head, occasioned of hot vapours, or smokes▪ for it is like vn­to fyer, and flaxe. The thirde is blacke or deepe, Red wyne which is thicke a stopper of the belly, a corrupter of the bloude, a breeder of the stone, hurte­full to olde men, Auicen in 3. prim. 2. doc. cap 8. To know good wyne. and profitable to fewe Men, excepte they haue the bloudye fluxe. And for the Election of wyne Auicen sayth, that Wyne is best, which is betweene new and olde, cleare, declyning somwhat to Redde or Amber, of good odour, neither sharpe nor sweete, but equal betwene both, for it hath vertue not onely to make humours temperate, warme and moyst, but al­so [Page 11] to expell euell matter, whych corrupteth the stomacke and bloud: In Sommer it ought to be delayed wyth pure cleane water, To knowe good Wyne. as Aristotle sayth in his Problemes: and note this, that in dry yeres, wynes be best and most holsome: but in watry yeares, the Grapes be corrupted, which wine doth bringe to the body many euill diseases, as Dropsies, Timpanies, Fluxes, When Wine is best. Galen. in Reg­acu. Reumes, windes and sutch lyke, as Galen sayth: And thus to conclude of wyne, almighty God did ordayne it for the great comfort of mankinde, to be taken moderately, but to be drunke with excesse▪ it is vnholsome and is Poyson most venemous: it relaxeth the sinewes, bryngeth Palsy, Wyne mode­ratlye comfor­teth. Fallyng sicknesse, in olde persons, hoat Feuers, Fransies, Fighting, Lechery, and a consuming of the Lyuer to the Chollerike: and generally there is no cre­dence to be giuen to drunkardes, although they be mighty men. It maketh men lyke vnto monsters wyth countenaunce lyke to burning coales. A glasse for al excessiue. wine bibbers to looke in. It dishonoreth noble men, and beggereth poore men, and nearehande killeth as many as be slayne in cruell battayles the more it is to be lamented. Plato in secundo de legibus. Plato in 2 le­gibus. cōmaunded that none vnder .xxij. yeres olde should drinke wine. And this wyse man doth shew a reason saying: Non oportet ignem igni adiscere. One fier ought not to be put to an other or coupled together for they wyll deuoure eche other, because there is no meane betwene them, but ex­treme in one degree. Prouer. xxxj. And the woordes of king Lamuel bee these agaynst drunken Prynces or Iudges: Noli regibus ò Lamuel, noli regibus dare vinū, quia nullum secretum vbi regnat ebrietas, ne forte bibat & obliuiscantur iu [...]ciorum, & mutēt causam filiorum pauperis. &c. Oh Lamuel it is not fit for Kynges, it is not for kynges to drinke wine. For there is no secret▪ where dronkenes raigneth, least they beyng dronke forget the law, and peruert or change the Iudge­mente of poore mennes Chyldren. Lethi [...] Flud whose water did cause men to forget them selues when thei drūk of it Giue wine to such as be condempned to death, and Wyne to suche as Mourne [...], that they maye Drynke it and forgette theire miserye and aduersitye. I conclude that wine is hol­some for colde complections and crude stomackes, euel for cholerike, immo­deratly taken▪ a prince to princes, and a confounder of Iudges, and final­ly the floud of Lethe to the afflicted, to make them forget theyr miseries,

What is the vertue of the common water of Ryuers. Waters. springes and fountaynes. &c

WAter is one of the foure Elementes, Gal. 3. de vic. acu. lib. ij. fē. 2. more lighter then Earthe, heauier then fyer and aire. But this Water whiche is here amonges vs in Riuers, Pondes, Springes, Fluds, and Seas, is no pure water, for it is mingled with sundrye Ayres, Corruptions, Grossenes and softenes. What kynd of water is best. Notwithstandinge in all once Meates and Drynkes Water is vsed, and amongeste all liuinge Creatures cannot be forborne neyther of Manne, Beaste, Fishe, Foule, nor Herbe. &c. for all haue neede of water. And Auicen sayth, the Clay water is pure, for the clay clenseth the water: y ^e water is better, Auicē lib. ij▪ fen inde dispo­sitionibus. then y ^e water y ^t runneth ouer grauel or stones, so that it be pure Clay, & voyd of corruption. [Page] Also waters running toward the East be pure, comming out of hard stony Rockes, and a pinte of that water is lighter then a pinte of the standing water of Wels or Pooles: the lighter the water, the better it is. Also water that is put in wyne. &c. ought fyrst to be sodden, or it be occupied, and so the fyer doth clense it from corruption. Standing waters, and Waters run­ning neare vnto Cittyes and Townes, or Marrish groundes, wooddes, and fennes, be euer full of corruption, because there is so muche fylthe in them of Carrions, and rotten dunge. &c. The hyer the water doth fall▪ the better it is: Ise and snow waters be very grosse, and be hurtfull to the bo­dyes of men and Beastes. To drynke cold water is euil, for it wil stoppe the body, Salt water healeth scabs and engender Melancholye. Salt water clenseth a man from scabs, Itch, and moyst humoures, it killeth Lice, and wasteth blood betwene the skinne and the fleshe, but it is most hurtful to the stomacke: but the vapoure and smoke of it is good for them that haue the dropsye. If one that is bitten with a madde Dogge, be sodenly cast into a swifte runninge Riuer, and so plunged vp and downe, thre or foure times, hanging by the wast in a strōg Lynnen cloth, it wil helpe him by the reason of the greate sudden feare, in that Melancholye passion sayth Dioscorides. And Auicen sayth, water wher­in steele is quenched, is good to be geuen to him that is bitten with a mad Dogge. Also hee sayth, whosoeuer is bitten of a mad Dogge, and is vehe­mently afrayd when he seeth his face in a vessel of water and knoweth him selfe, it is a sig [...]e that he shal not die. Also bathes for the clensyng of the corrupt bodyes of men be made of cleane water: The goodlye vertues of cō ­mon water. without water Menne are more defyled than beastes, for it is a nutriment of euerye liuinge creature, sensyble, and insensible. There is a Riuer runninge at Rome called Tiber, whose water is of such vertue, that it wil remayne in a vessel of stone by the space of an hundred yeares vncorrupted as sayeth Petrus, Andraeus▪ Matthiolus vppon Dioscorides. There were some tyme neare vnto that aunciente and old Citty called Agrigentum, sacred welles, which wer of such vertue, that the water broughte forth suche precious Oyle, that the bodies which wer anoynted therwith, were clensed of sundry and diuers diseases.

Of Nilus that noble flood.Let vs not be forgetfull of that noble Riuer Tagus in Spayne, in whom swimmeth diuers kindes of fyshes, vnder whose streames lyeth plentye of golden sandes: what shal we say vnto the Capital riuer of all this Worlde called Nilus, whiche runneth ouer all Ethiopia and Egipte, in which Egipte there is no Rayne, but onely the swellinge and ouerflowinge of that fludde, which being falne down within his bankes, eftsoones great plentye of spi­ces, Herbes, Plants, and fruites do grow, in so muche that the people of y ^e Land do liue without any greate trauel, payn, or Labour, the cause of the aboundance, and swellinge of this famous riuer sayethe Galen, is when the Snowes bee melted, throughe the greate heate of the Sunne in the Mountaynes of Ethiopia? The cause why Nilus doth flowe. The Ocean the most Myghty Sea of all the Worlde, the Mother of Fyshes, straunge Monsters, Stones of diuers natures, seperater of landes, enuironer of Ilandes, y ^e water ther­of through a longe continual boyling ouer the fyer, is conuerted into salte. [Page 12] Also in the North partes of Scotland nere and vppon the sayd Ocian Sea, stickes, braunches, and bordes of broken shippes falling into the same Sea, The cause of Barnacles. vppon these thinges be engendred foules or birdes, which wee commonlye cal Brants or Barnacles, a kynd of smale Geese, which wee do see commō ­ly in this Realme, al of one colour and bignes, their Egges wer neuer seene amongest vs, they haue none other generation than I haue sayd: although to the incredulous and ignorant it seemeth vntrue, whose fantasyes I force not of, but of the truth. There be also waters in the Northe partes of the Ocian Sea, which doo freese for euermore, The cause of Christal. whose Ise is nothing elles but Christall, for Christall is of no other generation. Ther bee waters of an o­ther nature here in Englande called Aquae callidae, or the hotte Bathes, at a place so named called Bathe, whose water doth neuer freese throughe ex­treame coldenes, but is euer warme, whiche hath vertue to helpe the sore, The effectes of the Bathes at the towne of Bathe. scabbed and mangie, if I may so terme them: many haue come thither lame and haue gone awaye without corruption of the Fleshe▪ contraction of sy­newes, lamenes of Lims or weaknes of nature, & this is a blessing of God among vs, to haue so precious a Iewel. There is a wel near hād of the like effect at Buckestone, whose water hath done many & sundry good cures, Guiacum is of greatter vertue then bath or Buck [...] stons wels a­gaynst the nosegay of Naples. both to the sore, and lame: yet these waters are reported to be so gentle, that they wil not vsurpe or steale from Guiacum, his vertue and good seruice, which it dayly doth to his Neapolitā, French or English frends, you know what I mean. What shall I say more of water or deepe welles, which bee warme in winter, by the reason that heate is in the bowels of the Earth, and cold in Sommer, because heate is aboue the earth: Ther is a noble wel called Alissus in Arcadia, and who so drinketh of this water shal be deliuered of the venome, or bytinge of madde Dogges. There bee diuers welles at Nante wyche. &c. wherof is made greate plenty of good white Salt, very rich and profytable to our common wealth. I wil not forgette the Well of Silo and the Sacred floud of Iordane, which was the first water of Baptisme where as Iesus Christ our Sauioure was Baptised himself, whose beginninge is from the heads of Ior. and Dan. or from a Fountayne cal­led Pancade so named of Caesarea: in this riuer is plenty of good Fishes, it is a sweete noble Floud where Christ Iesus our sauioure, did shewe Myra­cles. But Asphaltites sayeth Plinie wil suffer nothing to syncke into it, Bull nor Cammell. &c. in this Floud is plenty of Sytumen, The dead se [...]. wher was Sodome and Gomor, sometyme the dead Sea. And thus I make an end of water & the Earth. Rayne water is bynding and stopping of nature, water is a very good seruaunt, but it is a cruell mayster.

What is the vertue of Beere and Ale?

[Page] ALe doth engender grosse humours in the body, but if it bee made of good Barley malte, & of holesome water, and very wel sodden, and stand .v. or vi. dayes, vntil it be cleare, it is holesome, Although Beere & Ale be compounds yet I haue here placed th [...]m after water, wherof they receiue their greattest substaunce. especially for hotte Cholorike persons, hauinge burning Feuers. But if Ale be very sweete and not wel sod­den in the brewing, it bringeth inflation of wind and fleum into the Belly, If it be very sower, it nippeth and freateth the guttes, & is euil for the eies: to them that be very Fleumatike, Ale is verye grosse, but to temperate bo­dies, it encreaseth blood, it is partlye laxatiue and prouoketh vrine. Cleane brued Beere, if it bee not verye stronge, brewed with good Hoppes doth clense the Bodye from corruption, and is very holsome for the Liuer, it is an vsual or common drink in most places of Englande, which in deede is hurte and made worse with manye rotten Hoppes, or Hoppes dried like dust, which cometh frome beyond sea: but although there come many good Hoppes from thence, yet it is knowen that the goodly fyeldes, and fruitfull groundes of England do bring forth to mans vse, as good Hoppes as gro­weth in any place of the world, as by proofe I know in many places of the Coūtrey of Suffolke, where they brew theyr Beere with the Hoppes that growe vppon theyr owne groundes, as in a place called Brisiarde, neare to an old famous castle called Framingham and in many other places of the country. A late house of Nunnes Thus to conclude of Ale & Beere, they haue no suche vertue, nor goodnes, Surfets of Ale & Beere Au [...]cē ij. tert [...]a capi. viij. Auerho in cō. Rasis in .iiij. Almen. cap. v. as wine hath: and the surfets which be taken of theym, throughe dronkennes, be worser then the surfetes of win [...]. Know this, that to drinke Ale or Beere, of any empty stomack moderatly, hurteth not but doth good But if one be fasting hungry, or empty, and drinke much Wyne, it will hurte the Sinewes, and bringe the Crampe, sharpe Agues, and Palseis, as Aui­cen, Auerhois, & Rasis, sayth. The rinsepichers had a good medecine prepared for them: for the Maior of London, vppon a polityke consideration, Anno. 1560. made an order against mighty Beere and Ale, aswel for the health of the cōmons of London, as for their profyte. Whereat the Ale knightes, were not little offended, & do continue stil as true Souldiours to y ^e strong Beere and Ale, which is their Captayne, notwithstanding my lord Maiors decree, as it plainly appeareth in their flushing, red, coppred noses. For strong Ale hath such vertue and worthines, that he cannot bee so persecuted, afflicted, yea and banished, but his disciples most constantly will followe him, to the end of their liues. Therfore they shall haue Bacchus blessing for their labours. But yet the end of Drunkards and Gluttons is miserable: therfore my Marcellus, heare that most prudent and wisest Prince king Salomon, saying. Noli esse in conuiuijs potatorum, nec in comessationibus eorum qui carnes ad vescendum cō ­ferunt: quia vacantes potibus, & dantes symbola, consumentur & vestietur pannís dormitatio. &c. Keepe no company with Wine bibbers, and ryotous eaters of Fleshe. For such as be drunkardes and ryoters, shal come to pouerty. And hee that is geuen to much sleepe, with ragged clothes. &c Lo, these be the re­wardes of such companions and vnthriftes.

[Page 13] I Thanke you for your good counsayle, good Hilarius, you haue spoken indifferently: and you haue alledged good writers, but specially Salomon, whose woordes be well placed, against ryo­tours and drunkardes, with their rewards, as pouerty, shame, and ragges. &c. for abusyng the good creatures, and blessinges of God: but to vse them in good order, they be our seruauntes, and we may take them for our neede. I pray you say some thynge of Bread, which is the chyefe foode to all liuing men in this Land.

THE beste bread is made of cleane Wheate, The meane baked bread▪ the beste. which groweth in claye grounde, lightly Leuened, meanely Salted, and the Bread to be baken in the ouen, not extremely hote, least it be burned, nor also lesse than meanely hote, least the Breade bee heauie and rawe: the lighter the bread is, and the more fuller of the holes, the holsomer it is, thus Auerhois, and Rasis saye. Aue in v. col. Rasis in .xxx. in almū Cap. 3 What bread is beste. And also Bread must neither bee eaten newe baked, nor very stale, or olde, for the one causeth drinesse, thurst, and smokyng in the hedde, troublyng the braynes and eyes, through the heate thereof. The other dryeth the body, and bringeth melancholy humours, hurting memory. The best bread is that, Bread of a day old, that is of a day old: and the loaues or Manchettes, may neither be great nor litle, but meane, for the fire in small loaues, dryeth vp the moistenes or vertue of the bread, & in great loaues, it leueth rawnes and grosenes, Read Galen, Galen ii. al [...] ­ment. capi. 2 Sodden bread not holsome. in the properties of bread: sodden bread, which is called Simnelles. or Cracke­nelles, is very vnholsome, and hurteth many one. Rye bread is wyndie, and hurtfull to many, therefore it must be well salted, and baken with Anisedes. And commōly crusts of Bread, be dry and burned: they do engender choler aduste and melancholy humours. Therefore in greate mennes houses, the Bread is chipped so nigh, and so largely pared, that mutch of it is abused, & shamefully made into sosse for Dogges, which would feede a great number of poore people: but many men bee more affectionate to Dogges, Barly bread. than to men. Barly Bread doeth clense, and make the body leane.

Yet thus mutch more of Bread. If a Manchette stand al night in Borage water, and in the morning bee giuen to a man, that is new fallen madde, it wyll helpe him, vsyng it xiiii. dayes: being also letten bloud in Cephalica, a veine in the forehead. Also a Cake or Manchette, made in this manner, and daily eaten: ℥.viii. halfe in the morning, and as much at Night, helpeth Go­norrhea passio, or running of the raines. A pound of fine flower, and the fyne dryed pouders of Walnuttes, Chestnuttes, Hasil nuttes, Filberdes, Maister R [...] ­ger Strāges Medicine, brought from Uenice, writ­ten by a lear­ned Italian Doctour. Nut­megges, Almonds, and Pistacia, of these, vii. kindes of Nuttes. ʒ.iii, tempered with this meale, and red Wine, and so your bread made thereof. There is also a kinde of Bisquit made with Anisedes, holsome for the lunges, or reu­matike persons. Calamus, long Peper, Ginger, Spicknard, and Galanga, bee good to put into their bread which haue the Dropsie, or Tympanie.

What is the vertue of Peares.

[Page]THere be of diuers kindes of Peares, heauier then Aples, not good vn­till they be very ripe, The operati­on of Peares. vnlesse they be tenderly rosted, or baken, and eatē after meales. Ther is a kynd of Peares, growing in the City of Nor­wich, called the Blacke Freres Peare, very delicious and pleasaunt, and no lesse profitable vnto a hoate stomacke, as I heard it reported, by a ryghte worshipful Phisicion of the same City, called Doctour Manfield, who said, he thought that those Peares, without all comparison, were the beste that grewe in any place of England. Dioscorides sayeth Lib. i. Capi. cxxxii. That all Peares doe stoppe and bynde, Blacke Fre­res Peares. of Norwiche. so do the leaues, and therefore sayeth he, pla­sters be wholsome made of thē, to stoppe vomites and laxies. There maye Lye bee made of Peare tree braunches, or barkes, which is holsome to seeth wylde Peares in, that be called stranglyng, or choke Peares. For so soddē, it doth take away venome or hurte: the same Ashes dooth helpe Men, be­yng drunken in whyte Wyne, Ashes made of wild peare-tree, the ver­tue thereof. that be almost strangled with Mouseums, or sutch like. Peares haue many names, as Peare Robert, Peare Iohn, Busshops blessyngs, with other prety names. The red Warden is of greate vertue, conserued, rosted, or baken, to quench choller.

Aples.What is the vertue of Aples?

APles be very cold and wyndye, hard to digest, engenderers of ill bloud, hurtful to the flegmatike persones, good to cholerike stomackes, if they be through ripe, The operati­on of Aples. Diosco [...]ides Lib. i. Cap. 131 For a chole­ [...]ike stomack. Costarde. greene Cote. Pipins. but best if they be rosted, or baken and eaten with grose Peper to Bedwarde. They bee of many kyndes, as Costardes, the greene Cotes, the Pippē, the queene Aple, and so forth: the distilled water of Aples, Champhire, Uinegar and Mylke, is a good medicine to anoynt the Faces of chyldren, that haue the smal Pockes, when the sayed Pockes be rype, to kepe them from pittes or erres, prouided, that they haue giuen them in their Milke Saffron, or Mithridatum, to expel the venome, and kepe them from the aire, A medicine for the smal Pockes. during the sayed sicknes. The pappe of an Aple with Rose Water applyed to the Eyes, dooth quenche the burnyng, and taketh away the red­nes of theim. Aples bee good in Winter, and prouoke vrine: eate theim with a lyttle Salte. Tartes of Aples wyth Anisedes, make sweete breath: there is a wyndy drynke made of them called Cider: Uergis is not greatly to be [...] lauded, albeit, custome doth permit it.

Peaches.What is the vertue of Peches,

The operaci­on of Peaches THE leaues be hote, for if they be stamped in plaster wyse, & ap­plyed vnto the belly, they kyl wormes: the fruict is cold, and ve­ry good for the stomack: Hot stomack. they be good to bee eaten of them, that haue stinking breathes of hote causes, Against styn­king breathes eaten of any empty sto­mack, as it is the counsayle of Galen. who sayeth, if they be eatē after meate, they do corrupt, both them selues, and the Meates lately eaten, and they be byn ders of the belly: Quinces holsome. but Quinces bee most comfortable after meate, and [Page 14] they doe enclose the s [...]mack, & let vapours frō ascending into the braine, & stoppe vomites. Folkes that be swolne in theyr bodies, and vse to eate quinces with the grose pouder of Galanga, Spiknard, Calamus, Swellinges. and Gin­ger, shall receiue comfort: they may be eaten before meate, of the sayd sicke pacyents, as well as after, but mutch vse of them, is not so profitable, as delectable to the eaters of them.

What is the vertues of Quinces? Any more than thus. Quinces.

IF thy stomacke bee very hote, or moyste, or thy belly laxatiue, The operaci­on of quinces. then Quinces be good to be eaten before meate, beyng rosted, or eaten colde: and in this case, the tarter be the better: Pōgarnettes. and Pomgarnettes be of the same vertue, as Isaac sayeth: but eaten after meate, they doe en­close the stomacke, and moyste the belly, Isaack in perti▪ die. they ought not to be vsed in com­mon meates: the custome of them hurteth the sinewes, but in the waye of medecin they bee excellent: and the cores beyng taken out, and preserued in Honye, or kepte in their musslege, they may longe continu [...], Quinces rawe hurte. to the vse of ro­styng, or bakyng, for they be perillous to the stomack eaten raw, but preser­ued, they do mightely preuaile against drunkenes: Against drun­kenesse. they be cold in the first de­gree, and dry in the begynning of the second.

What is the vertue of Cheries? Cheries.

THE tarte Cheryes vndoubtedly, be more wholsomer then y ^e sweete, The operacy­on of Cheries. and eaten before meate, they doe mollifye the Belly, Against hote Choler. Galen de ali­men. Ra lib. xxiii. Capi Diosc. in libr. i. capi. cxxix prepare dige­stion, and they bee most excellent against hotte burning choler, they be good also after meate, and be of many kindes, as blacke, red, and pale: the red Cherye partely tarte is beste, Galen and Rasis, greatly commende thys fruicte. This fruicte is cold and moyst in the fyrst degree. And the gumme of a Cherye tree, sodden in Wine and drunke, hath all these properties, saieth Dioscorides, it helpeth old coughes, giueth good colour to the face, sharpeth the syght, maketh perfect digestion, and maketh cleane the raynes from gra­uell. Plinie sayeth, Libr, xv. Capi xxv. it was a straunge thing to see Cheries at Rome, vntyll sutch tyme as Lucullus the Noble Romaine vanquished Mi­thridates, the kyng of Pontus. And from thence came Cheries at that tyme to Rome, whych was aboute the incarnacion of our Lorde Chryst .lxxiii. yeres. And then within fewe yeres after, all Italie was full, and thē most part of Fraūce: and so they came in to this our great Britan chiefly in Kēt, whereas great plenty doth growe yerely.

What is the vertue of Grapes, Rasines, Prunes, Barbe­ries, Orenges, and Medlers?

[Page] Grapes. HIppocrates sayeth, that the whyte Grapes, bee better than the black, and wholsomer when they are twoo or three dayes gathered frō the Uine, than presently pulled from it: and if they bee sweete, they bee partlye nutratyue, and warme the Bodye, and thys agreeth Galen, Galen de alimen. ii. Rasis in iiii. alimen. xx. and Rasis, who seemeth to commend sweete Grapes, aboue Dates, saying: although they bee not so warme, yet they do not stop the bo­dy, or make oppilation as Dates doe. They be wholsome to be eaten before meate, euen as Nuttes bee good after Fysh: towards the South, & South East parts of the world, there be many growyng in diuers Regions, wher­of the Wines bee made, the farther from vs, the hotter the Wine: there bee very good Grapes growyng here in England, in many places, as partly I haue seene. Raisons. Raysons of the Sonne be very wholsome, and comfort digesti­on, but the stones and rindes, would be refused: and then they be good for the splene and lyuer, To comfort digestion Splene and Liuer. Sweete pru­nes bee laxa­tiue, but tarte be byndyng Oxiacantha, called the Barbarie Mespila called the Medler. so be Aligantes. Rasis doeth mutch commend them, but vndoubtedly the small Raysons be hurtfull to the splene. Prunes, and Da­maseins haue vertue to relaxe the belly, if they be sweete and ripe: they doe nourysh very lyttle, but quench, choller. Grapes Raisons, Prunes Plūmes, and Slowes, if they be sower, be all binders of the belly. And so is the Bar­bery, called Oxiacantha, and Orenges, except the saied Orenges be condited wyth Sugar, and then they be good coolers agaynst hoate choller, whose rindes be hoate, and dry of nature. The fruict called the Medler, is vsed for a medicine, and not for meate, it prouoketh vrine, and of nature is stipticke.

What is the vertue of Capers and Olyues?

Capers and Oliues. FResh Capers be hoate and dry in the second degree, and eaten before meates, doe greatly comfort digestion: and bee the best thynges for the Splene, Good for the Splene. or to clense melācholy, so is the oyle of Capers to anoint the Splene, or left syde, that can be taken. Preserued Oliues in Salte, eaten at the beginning of meates, do greatly fortefy the stomacke, and relaxe the belly, clense the liuer, and are hoate and dry in the second degree. The decoc­tion of Caper barkes helpeth the Splene, beyng drunke.

Aloes.What is the vertue of Aloes?

THere bee twoo kindes of Aloes, one is named Succotrina, which is like a liuer, Two kyndes of Aloes. cleare, bryttle, bitter, coloured betwen red and yellow: this is best for medicines, a litle of this tē ­pered with Rose water, To helpe wa­try eyes. and being put into the eyes, hel­peth the dropping, & watry eyes. Also it is put into many excellēt medicines laxatiue, as Saffrō, Mirrhe, Aloes, mingled together in the forme of pilles, is the most excellent medicine against y ^e Pestilence, Agaynst the Pestilence. cal [...]ed pillule Ru [...]i as it is writtē in this boke folowing. Hony & Aloes mingled to­gether, doe take away the markes of stripes, and also doe mundyfye sores, [Page 15] and vlcers, it doeth clense the aboundance of choller and fleume from the stomacke, it is not good to be taken in Winter. For Auicen doeth forbidde it, Markes of stripes of the skin. but in the Sprynge tyme, or Haruest: the pouder thereof, the wayghte of a French croune, mingeled wyth the water of Honye, or Mede, and so drunke in the mornyng, doeth clense both Choller and fleume. To clense choler [...]nd fleum▪ There is an other grosse Aloes, which is good for horses tempered with Ale, and ministered, and aswell to other great Beastes, as horses, the wayght of halfe an Unce, and thus mutch haue I sayed of Aloes: but if Aloes be cleane washed, it is the holsommer, mutch vnwashed Aloes wyll cause Emeroides. A cause of the Emroides.

What is the vertue of Dictamnum,

IT is of a singuler vertue, leaued like vnto Peneryal, but greater, and somwhat rough, and tasteth lyke Ginger when it is bittē on: this herbe is incomparable for his singuler good­nes, in spedy deliueraunce of dead chyldren from their Mo­thers, beyng drunke in Syrupe. Ther be two kindes of them the one called Dictamnum, and the other Pseudo dictamnum, one of the garden, the other of the field, and haue many rootes: Dictamnum is a good sodē ▪ salue for a souldier in the fyelde▪ the Leaues bee onely occupyed, and not the stalkes, beyng sodden in wine, it draweth cor­ruption out of depe woundes: if any man be wounded wyth Iron, as Da­ger, Speare, nayle, pyece of harneis, hayleshot, or mayle, droppe in y ^e Iuice of this herbe into the sayed wounde, and eftsones it wyll drawe forth the I­ron therein fyxed, so that the pacyent drynke of the same herbe in wine. Dioscorides. lib iij. cap. xxxj. A maruailus woorke of Dictamnum. Di­oscorides reporteth, that wylde beastes, and Goates among the Grekes, whē they were wounded with arrowes, dyd feede on thys herbe, whose vertue caste oute the Arrowes, and healed the wounde. It wyll do the like al­so to mankynde, if he be not smitten witha mortall wound. The smoke of this Dittan, called Dictamnum, doth driue away any liuyng thinge frō man, that is venemous, as Tode, Neute, Skorpion. &c. And the Noble Poete Uirgil doth greatly commend the same precious herbe, Lib. xij. Aeneidos. with these pleasaūt sweete Uerses, saying:

Which Uerses are Englyshed thus.

I pray you, what is the nature of Helenium, called Enula campana, which we common plain people call Alacam pane.

[Page] Enula cāpana THis herbe of worthy Memorye, hath thus ben called, as some doe say, from the battayle of Troie: which was be­fore the incarnacion of Gods onely sonne, A fable per­haps. our God and sa,+uiour Iesus Chryst .1189. And then was named Eleniū of the lamentable and pitifull Teares of Helena, Wife, to Menelaus, A bitter dif­finition. when she was violently taken away by Paris into Phrigia, hauing this herbe in her hande. Or as other doe say, this no­ble Helena made a goodly medicine of this herbe, agaynst the deadly Ue­nome, or poysone of Serpentes. And Plinie reporteth, that Iulius Augu­stus the Emperour, Auicen secum C [...]n. cap. Enu­la campana. did eate of this daily with his meate. It preuayleth a­gainst poyson, it dooth comfort the heart, as it is sayd: Enula campana, reddit praecordia sana. Aicuen. The wine of this herbe, doth clense the lyghtes, breast, and iunges: and swallowed with clean Hony, it causeth to spyt, and breaketh wynde. Balme and thys herbe be great friends to the heart: and if it be sod­den wyth Rue, it preuayleth agaynst the colike, and ruptures, whych come of wynde: it is not exactly hote and dry. It is very comfortable in bathes, to washe and clense the body from filth, itch, skabbes, and to keepe the partes of the body warme, and to make them redde that were pale: and is good for Ischias called Sciatica, or paynes in the huccle bones, applyed playster wayes warme. The roote is of great vertue, sayeth Galen Libr. vi. Simplic Medic. If it bee champed, sayeth Plinie, fastyng in the mornyng, it will confyrme & sta­blysh the teeth: and the oyle is good agaynst the tourments of the guttes, whych be vexed wyth wynde, and helpeth the sinewes. If any wylde beast fall in any net, dyed wyth the same Enula, they shalbe poysoned therewyth, as Galen sayeth in hys booke de Theriaca ad Pisonem, but some wysemen doe thynke rather it bee a fable, than a true history. And thus I do ende of this good herbe, whose chyef vertue is in the roote.

What is a Tassill good for, besydes the Clothe workers businesse, which is in hys shoppe?

Tasell. A Tasell is called Dipsacus in Greeke, by a contrary name, for it receiueth in the concauitie and holonesse, dewe and rayne, to releue the drynesse. It is also called virga pastoris, Sheper­des rod and Fuller Thystell. Ther be two kyndes, one wild & vnprofitable: the other is a good Seruaunt in the common wealth, for trymming of cloth, and cappes, & it is a styffe Tasell. The rootes and leaues wyth the pryckes be dry in the second degree: if thys herbe bee sodden in water to a thicknesse, and drawen through a strayner, and sodden agayne vnto a more thycknes thys layed vpon chappes, or places, opened w ^t wynde, as in Marche, it healeth theim. The same put into a Fistula, doeth heale it, and taketh away Wartes, so say Dioscorides and Plinie,

What doe you saye of an herbe, called Hypericon.

[Page 16] DIoscorides calleth thys herbe, Libr. tertio Capitulo. Cliiii. Hypericum, Chamaepityn, Androsaemon, or Corion, with suche coppye of names: Hypericon S. Iohns herbe, weeds grasse. or woorte. The seede dooth partly smell lyke Rosen: If this herbe bee chafed and broken in ones hande▪ it sendeth forth a bloudy Iuice, sayeth he, the seedes be blacke, and the flower yellowe, it groweth in the Moneth of Iuly, and August, and is commonly knowen in euery place: and of tem­perament or nature, is hotte and drye▪ Galen sayeth, it prouoketh vryne: Galen. Libr. viii. Simpl. medicamen. torum. al the herbe must be put to the medicine, as to salues, then it healeth moyste and stinkyng putrifyed sores. And beyng drunke, eyther the water, the Syrupe, the iuice, or pouder, healeth Ischias, or the Sciatica, of the same mynde is Dio­scorides, But they must drynke of the seede, sayeth he, by the space of .xl. dayes. And this Sayncte Ihons worte or herbe, helpeth tartians or quartaynes, drunke with wyne: the iuice healeth any burnte place, and is good for the stone. Acyrum, Androsaemum and Coris, be kynsfolk. But the seedes of Acyrum wyll purge, they differ in forme. But for tyme, sauour, place, and nature, they be much like one vnto the other: And are al named among vs, sainct Iohns worte or herbe.

OUr fyelds doe grow full of Scabious, euery mere and balke is full of it in Iune: Some dooe vse this Herbe for the Pestilence, commonly called the plague. Wherefore doe the learned men, as Dioscorides and Galen say it is good.

SCabiosa so named of old tyme, because it is giuen in drynke inwardly, or oyntmentes outwardly, to heale Scabbes, sores, corruption in the stomacke, yea, Scabious for scabbes, it ta­keth the name of the proper­tie, the right name is Sto­bee or Psora-there be two kindes of it. and is most fryend a­mong all other herbes, in y ^e tyme of the Pestilence, to drink the water with Mithridatum a mornynges. It stoppeth the bloudy flixe, and Hemeroides, and anoyntment made thereof, healeth Antrax, called the Carbuncle, or hotte bur­nyng Pestilent botch, or fearful sore. Galen sayeth Lib. vii. Simplicium medicam. that it is hot, drie, and bytter, and hath vertue to bynde, dry, and stoppe, it wil ioyne a fresh wound together. The iuice dropped into the eye, healeth it, if it be pricked or bleede. It is good to be dropped into foule rūning moist eares, it should seeme, being both hotte and dry, if it be sodden in wine, and drunk, it dryeth superfluous humors. Dioscorides calleth it Stoebe, the flowers are like a Blew or white thrummed hatte, the stalke rough, the vpper leaues ragged, and the leaues next the grosse rootes be playner. Under whom often times, Frogges wyll shadowe them selues▪ from the heate of the day: hoppyng and playing vnder these leaues, whych to them is a pleasaunt Tent or paui­lion, sayeth Aristophanes, who made a playe, wherin Frogges made pastime.

What is the vertue of Buglosse? Buglosse.

IT is an herbe most temperate, betwene hot & cold, To comfort [...] the hearte. of an excellent ver­tue, a comforter of the hearte, a purger of Melancholy, a quieter of the Frensye, a purger of the vryne, holsome to be drunke in wyne, Frensye. but most [Page] effectually in Syrupe, Dioscorides, and Galen doe greatly commend thys herbe, and to bee prayse worthy daily experyence proueth.

BasillWhat is the vertue of Basill.

THis herbe is warme in the second degree, hauyng the vertue of moist­nes: Ozimum or sweete oder, or redolent. Dropsie For the brain and harte. and if it be sodden in wyne, with Spicknard, and drunke, it is good agaynst dropsyes, wyndes, fleumes, coldnes of the heart, hardnes of y ^e sto­macke. The sauour of Basyll doth comfort the brayne and heart, the vse of thys herbe in meates, doth decay the syght,

Polipodie.What is the vertue of Polipodye.

IF thys Herbe be sodden wyth Beafes, and Mallowes, in the broth of a Henne, Fleume. and drunke, it wyll lose the Belly, and clense Fleume: the roote of this herbe, beyng dry, and beaten in fyne pouder, and drawen into the nosethrylles, helpeth a disease called Polipus. Galen. and Actu [...]rius. affirmeth that ℈.i. of the rootes of Sene, Actua in li. de compo. med. soddē with Polipodye in Mede, or Honye, and so strayned, doth purge choller and melancholye, without payne. It is of the lyke vertue and effect, sodden in the broth of a Henne, or Ptisane, and is of order temperate, and relaxyng:

What is the vertue of Burnete, whych in Sommer tyme is vsed to bee put in bowles, & glasses of wyne, serued at the table?

Potentilla.IT is very pleasaunt to be putte in cleane Cuppes, Gobblettes, or pieces, wherein is cleane Frenche wyne: it maketh it pleasaunt wyth the Iuice of Lymondes, and good whyte Sugar: it hath golden flowers, greene leaues, purple rootes of the out syde, and whyte wythin, and doeth drye and bynde, and stoppeth the bloudy flyxe very well.

Spinage.What is the vertue of Spinage,

Mollefying.It is an herbe mutch vsed in meate, colde and moyste in the fyrst degree: it mollifyeth, and maketh softe the belly, it is good for them that be hotte and drye, and ill for flegmatike men,

Uinegar.What is the vertue of Uinegar?

UInegar is colde and drye, and is hurtfull for them that be melancoly: but when it is drunk, or powred vpon an outward wound, it stop­peth the bloud, The property of Uinegar. it also killeth hotte apostumacions of Erisypilas: it is an enemy to the Sinewes, Uinegar & Brimstone soddē together, are good for [Page 17] the goute, to wash it wythall. Uinegar tempered with wolle. To helpe the goute. helpeth a dis­ease called Soda, in the head, applyed warme vnto the place. It is good in Sause, for warme and moyste men. Uinegar with cleane clarifyed Hony, Paynes in the throte. Penidies, and faire water sodden together, doth greatly helpe the paynes of the throte, lunges, and, stoppyng of the winde, and quencheth hoat dyseases, And sharpe Uinegar mingled with Salte, Byting of a Dogge. and put vppon the biting of a Dogge, doth heale it: and agaynst poison it is excellent, chiefly to drink a lit­tle thereof agaynst the Pestilence, in a mornyng. Agaynst the Pestilence.

What is the vertue of Setwall? Setwall.

IT is hoate and drye in the seconde degree, and is good: the pouder there­of to be drunke, is moste of effect against the pestilence, Theophr [...] ­stus of Set­wall. except Mithrida­tum. It is good agaynst poyson, windie, chollerike, and colde passions of the hearte, and doth restrayne Uomites, the wayght of .viii. G. doeth suffice to bee drunke in Ale or Wine, vpon an emptie stomacke. Uomites strayned.

What is the vertue of Mellilote? Mellilote. Sertu [...]a, or kinges croun [...]

IT hath vertue to ripe, and is more hoater than colde, Mellilote Flaxsede, Rose leaues, Champhire, and womannes Milke, tempered together, doe make a goodly medicine agaynst the hoate inflamacion of the eyes. For the eyes, stomacke and liuer. To helpe the Splene. If this herbe be drunke in wyne, it doeth mollifye the hardnes of the stomacke and liuer: the most excellent plaster agaynst the paines of the Splene, doeth Mesuae describe, which is made of Mellilote. Uinegar, Roses, and Mellilote together, do helpe the headache, it applyed to the forehead in a cloth,

What is the vertue of Tyme? Tyme.

IT is vehement of heate, wyth drynesse in the thyrde degree: Dioscorides sayeth, if it bee dronke with Uinegar and Salte, it purgeth fleume: sodden wyth Honye or Mede, it hath vertue to clense the lunges, and the breast, matrix, raines, and blader, and kylleth wormes. The pouder of Time eaten in Potage, is hol­some for the eye sight: Theophrastus sayeth, there be twoo kyndes of Tyme, the one whyte, the other blackysh. Theop lib. ii. Capi. vi. There bee no flowers growing in fields or gardēs, better beloued of Beene, then the flowers of Time: and that yere wherein the greatest plenty of these flowers be seene, that same yere Honie doth abound: & when they be scarce, & not fertyl, thē there is litle, or no good hony y ^t yeere. Dioscorides sayeth in his .iiii. booke, that Epithymum is the flower of the harder Time. One vnce of Time dryed, & beate in pouder, mingled w ^t ʒ.iiii. of Oximel, & drunk of an empty stomack, before diner & supper, helpeth the stomack, guttes, matrix, and blader: and is good for them that haue red [Page] blered eyes, and for those that bee tourmented with the goufe. Galen com­mendeth Tyme in his .vi. booke of Simples, so doth Aetius with these com­mendacions aforesayd. The whiter the Tyme is, with white and purple flo­wers, the better it is, the blacker y ^e worse. And thus I do conclude of Time desiring God that we may spende the tyme well to his glory, [...] cannot [...] called [...]. and profite of our neighbour: for tyme cannot be called againe, but by litle and litle slippes away, they which Godly obserue the tyme, in tyme to come, shall receiue the fruictes of theyr owne labours, wyth happy liues, quiet mindes, and blessed endes: whereas the shamefull abusers of time, and mysusers of themselues, although euyll spent tyme, seeme well vnto them, yet theyr liues be wicked, theyr labor fruictlesse, and their ende horrible: as once shall appeare when death doeth come, whych is the end of euery tyme.

Sweete Ca­lamus odora­tus.What is the vertue of sweete Calamus odoratus, called Calamus Aromaticus.

IT is an excellent sweete roote, and profitable for men, if the Poticaries kepe it not vntill it be rotten: it is hotte and drye in the beginning, & to the middes of the second degree. It hath power to clense, to dry, and to wast all windines within the body, without hurte. Galen doth greatly commend the sauour of it. To waste winde in the bodye. They that drinke of this roote sodden in Wine, shal haue remedy of y ^e white Morphewe, and recouer good colours in their Faces, and this haue I often proued. A remedy for the white Morphewe. It helpeth to clense, purge, and dry the water that is betwene the skin, and the flesh: beyng drunk with the sedes of Sma­lage, Parsely, and Fenel, sodden wel together & strained, it helpeth crampes, and syckenes in the sinewes: being dronke with wine, sodden wyth Sage and freshe Cappers, it helpeth the coldnes of the splene, liuer, and raynes. Al­so it augmenteth seede of generacion, Seede au­gmented. and purgeth termes menstrual if the pouder be dronke. What is better in Wormewoode, or Sage Ale, then Ca­lamus to be drunke, for them whych haue the dropsie, as Ascites. &c. It wyll expulse and put out sores of the blader, and make the stinkyng vryne to bee sweete: truely it is a noble herbe, but the vertue is in the roote.

Ginger.What is the vettue of Gynger.

Auerhoisin v. in coll, Mesue in .iiii. disunt.It is hote in the third degree, and moyst in the end of the fyrst, if it bee vn­colloured, white, and not rotten, it is very good, most chiefly if it bee con­serued and greene, as Mesue sayeth: it maketh warme a cold stomack▪ and consumeth windes, helpeth euyll digestion and maketh meate goe easely downe into the stomacke.

Oile of O­liues best.What is the vertue of Oyle made of Oliues.

[Page 18] GReene oile of Oliues, is y ^e mother of al Oiles which doeth draw into her own nature, the vertues of herbes, leaues, To digeste colde herbes. flowers, fruictes, and rootes: sweete Sallet oile is whol­some to digest colde herbes, and Sallettes, tempered with sharpe Uinegar and Sugar: newe Oyle doeth moyst, Anerhois com­mēded oyle in quinto de ouis ▪ Oile of roses. and warme the stomacke, but olde oyle corrupteth the stomack and cleaueth to the Lunges, & maketh one hoarse. Oyle of Roses, & sharpe Uinegar tempered together, is good to anoynt the foreheds of them, Againste Frensies. that be troubled with extreme heate, or frensye: so that Buglosse be sodden in theyr Possetale, or els drynke the Syrupes of Endiue, or Buglosse. There be ma­ny goodly vertues in compounded oyles, both to make hote, and to coole the body, when it is extreme hotte, as the great learned man Mesue, hath descry­bed in his Antidotarie. Of oyles, you shal haue plenty followyng.

What is the vertue of Rosemary. Rosemarye.

ROsemarye is an herbe of great vertue, hotte and dry: sodden in wine, and drunke before meate it doth heale the Kynges euyll, or paynes in the throte, as Dioscorides and Galen saye. Kinges euyll The sauoure of it doth cō ­fort the brayne and hearte, the flowers of Rosemary is an excellent Cordial, called di Anthos, & is good after Feuers, or for Melācholy men. The brayne comforted. And y ^e seedes drunke in wine, helpe the fallyng sicknes, and paynes of the breast.

What is the vertue of Agrimonye. Agrimonie.

DIoscorides sayeth, that if this herbe with Swines grease, bee stamped together, and layed vpon an olde rotten sore beyng hote, Old sore. it hath Uer­tue to heale it. The seede of thys herbe drunke with Wyne, it is good agaynst the bytyng of Serpents, stoppyng of the Lyuer, and bloudy flixe. Biting of Serpentes. The Syrup of it is good to open the lyuer,

What is the vertue of Mugworte. Mugworte.

MUgwort, Fetherfew, and Tansy, be very hote and drye in the second degree: Mugwort, Spurge, & Oile of Almōds, tempered plasterwyse, and applyed cold to the sicke pay­ned stomacke, wil bryng health. It is good in bathes, A payned stomacke. sayth Galen, it is wholsome for women: it clenseth, warmeth, cō forteth the matrix, and breaketh the stone. Plinie sayeth, Breakyng the stone. it is good against byting of Serpents, and holsome for tra­uayling Men, if they carry it, it lyghtneth them from wearines. Tan­sye doeth kyll and caste Wormes from Chyldren, dronke wyth Wyne: Killing wor­mes in childrē a colde playster stamped, and layed vppon the Bellye of a Woman, whose Chylde is deade wythin her, it wyll separate the deade Chylde, A presēt helpe of a dead child from the li­uyng Mother. Galen sayeth in hys syxt booke of Simples, there bee twoo kyndes of Mugworte, The one is commonly knowen to vs, To neese, the other [Page] groweth nere the sea side: they be both of singuler vertues, theyr waters be­ing stilled, theyr Syrupes prepared, bee very wholsome for the corrupted, or stopped Matrix, and also the herbe is good for bathes, in such purposes for Women. This hearbe was first found of a Noble Queene, named Arte­misia, wife to Mausolus Kyng of Caria, who was both learned in herbes and plants, chaste of Life, comely of person: and so loued her husband, that when he was deade, she made a Sepulcher, which was so excellent, costlye, & rich, that it was compted to be one of the wonders, and greatest maruailes of the Worlde, she called this herbe Latifolia, & Tenuifolia, after her owne name, Artemisia.

What is the vertue of Parsely, and Saxifrage?

THey haue vertue to breake the stone: Parsely is hote in the second degree, and drye in the middest of the third. The seede drunke with white wine, prouoketh the menstrual tearmes, as Dioscorides saieth: also Smallage hath the like vertue, as further appeareth,

Nowe saye on, and shewe to me, my good Maister, I pray you of Elleborus the white, and of Elleborus the blacke.

ELleborus Candidus. which causeth vomites, very strong and daū ­gerous for conuulsion, is called Albus, because the roote is whi­tish, it hath long stalkes, reddish leaues, with ribbes in them, in the forme of Planten leaues, many yellowe flowers growinge vpon stalkes by themselues, and growing in colde Groundes. The rootes muste bee gathered in Haruest: and this herbe is hote and drye, in the third degree. And is perilous to bee giuen, to women with childe, olde folkes and Children, or to tender people, or in Winter, but in sommer onely, and before supper. But one dragme, put in Milke or Furmentie: but fyrst do thus. Cutte a Radish roote in the greate ende, cleaue it ouerthwarte: then put your Elleborus Albus into it one whole night, How to cor­rect Ellebo­rus albus. or twelue houres, then presse it hard, this wil not onely take the venome from this Elleborus, but also giue it vertue, that it shall not hurte nature, or put the body into daunger, when vomites approch. This wil helpe the fallyng syckenes, Vertigo, Melancholy, madnes, white Leprosie, windes in the guttes, Dropsye, Timpany, Goutes Quartens, Coughes, and many such lyke; and prouoke neesynge. &c.

Elleborus niger, is called Melampodion, not only for the blacknes, but of the in­uenter who was called Melampus, Of Eleborus niger. a keeper of Goates, It is hote and drye in the third degree, & is planted in the Gardē, & is called Beares foote: black, rough, hearie rootes, like the bush vpon the breast of a Foule, whych we call the Cocke of a Turkaye. It hath all the vertues that the white hath, & more: thre peny waight in pouder drunke, casteth forth Wormes, clenseth fleume, melancholye, and dropsye. And it wyll clense the matrix, and expulse, or caste forth the deade Chyld. It is good for Pessaries for Women: the Iuice is good [Page 19] for to be put into the cares agaynst defnes. In plasters, it killeth wormes: the iuyce thereof helpeth horses of the bottes, and Swine that be infected. Or els if it be put into their eares, it will helpe them, when they be payned in their heades. No beastes dare eate thereof it is so bitter, nor foules, but only Quayles: As Aristotle, Auicen, Galen, & Lucretius affirme. These herbes be wholsome in outward plasters, to clense melancholy, & to dry fleume.

What is the vertue of Centaury, or fell terrae?

PLINIE sayth, that the syrupe of this herbe, drunke with a little Ui­negar and Salt, doth clense the body: the Leaues and flowers be of great vertue, to be sodden and drunk agaynst all raw humours of grosse fleumes, watery, or windy. It doth clense cruent or blou­dy matter, within the bodies of men or women: the pouder of this herbe, is good in pessaries for women, causing the dead childe, to depart from the mother. And is wholsome agaynst the Pestilence, in the tyme of Winter: and is hoate and dry, and of two kindes, and healeth both olde and newe woundes, as Galen writeth ad Papiam, of the vertue of little Centaury. This herbe was founde with his vertue, by that olde noble clarke Chyron Centau­rus, the inuenter of Herbes, Astronomy, and Musike.

What is the vertue of Penicialle?

IT is an herbe of mutch vertue and profite, hoat and dry in y ^e thirde degree: Dioscorides sayth, if this herbe be sodden with Hony, and A­loes, and drunk, it will clense the Lyuer, and purge the bloud most excellently: it helpeth also the lunges. Simeon Sethj sayth, if a womā drinke it with white Wyne, it will also prouoke, and clense the termes mē ­struall. And is also a very wholsome Potherbe, and mutch vsed amonge Pudding makers: which was inuented of some Phisicion, because of the warmnes & goodnes agaynst melancholy. The iuice with Uinegar, put in­to y ^e nose, is good agaynst the Fransy, or Lunatike sycknes.

What is Lichen called Lyuerworte, that groweth in Welles, darke colde places, and rockes?

WIthout all doubt Lichen doth so grow in darck places, and is called Lyuerwort: for it is good agaynst the sicknesse of the Liuer, Hepatica lichē called Lyuer­worte. it is colde and dry. Yet it hath a watery humour, it is vnpleasant in sa­uour, it stoppeth the bloudy flixe, it healeth a ryngworme, sayth Dioscorides: & stamped w ^t Hony, it helpeth the yellow Iaūdice, Diosco. lib. 4. Cap. 48. if the mouth & Tongue be anoynted therewith. The iuyce stoppeth woundes from bleding: Galen & Plinie agree to the same.

What say you then of the herbe, belonging to the Lunges, [Page] called Lungworte?

LEonardus Fuchsius sayth, Pulmonaria doth grow out of the Oke tree, or stony places, Lungworte because it is lyke y ^e lunges of man. hauing soft leaues, the vpperside greene, and the neather whitish, with little small bladers vpon y ^e crumpled leaues, and the whole lumpe of this herbe, sayth he, is like the Lunges of mankinde. It is drying and binding, and not colde and moyst, as some doe affirme: and the reason is, because it groweth from the Oke, which is of y ^e same nature, and temperament. And this herbe doth close newe woundes togither: most chiefly it helpeth the Lunges, or spitting of bloude, and stop­peth termes immoderate, Super Diosco. lib. 4. Cap. 48 & the bloudy fluxe. Mary Matthiolus sayth, that Lungwort hath leaues like to Buglosse, sharp, rough, white spottes, purple flowers, very like to the great Dogges tongue. It hath the same vertue y ^t the other hath, & worketh one effect: therefore it is no errour, to call theym both a like, Lung worte, or Pulmonaria. Specially, because two great lear­ned men, so call them of their elders and vertues. The last Lungwort. dyd Iulianus Marostica, Iulianus Maro­stica his strupe for y ^e lunges. a noble Phisicion vse to seeth in water, to the one halfe, putting in Sugar, and made a simple syrupe thereof to giue his pacients, to stop spitting of bloud, and to heale sores of the lunges.

What say you then to Mercury, what is the vertue thereof, and why is it so named?

THis auncient inuented herbe, was founde of Mercurius who florished about .164. yeres, Mercury. before Chrystes byrth. He was y ^e son of Maia, this man was afterward called one of y ^e Gods, for his wonderous wisedome, and inuention of Musike, and other Artes. He among al other herbes, so loued this, that he for y ^e singuler goodnes thereof, called it after his owne name Mercury. Whereof there be two kindes, Male and Female: the first hath blackishe leaues, Mercury helpeth con­ception. the second whitishe: they be hoate and dry in the first de­gree. Dioscorides sayth, that these doth moue the benefite of the Belly: they be very good for women after their naturall termes be past, to drinke either in syrupe, or decoction, to helpe conception. The male Mercury for men, the female for women. This Mercury is very good in Clisters laxatiue: we cal Rumex Mercury, which hath golden Sandes vpon the backesyde of the leaues, whych is also solutiue, and beneficiall for the belly. Sodden wyth Mallowes, it purgeth the Belly, and expulseth fleume, but it anoyeth the stomacke, as sayth Plinie.

MAllowes so called, ab emollienda aluo nomen traxit, it taketh his name of mollifying the belly: Mallowes. and they be good with Lettice, parboyled and eaten in fyne Sallet Oyle, to mollify the belly.

[Page 20] DIoscorides and Galen say, there be two kindes of them, one of the garden, which is great wyth flowers like Roses, Galen. Li. vij. simplis. called Bismalua, and the lesser kinde of the fielde & wood: this herbe is commonly knowen. The more that Mal­lowes be watry the lesser they bee of vertue, & the dryer the seedes are, the more they be of strength. And Mal­lowes be moyst and slimy of nature, relaxing the belly, but hurtfull for the stomacke, sayth Dioscorides: the leaues wyth Salt and hony eaten, heale the paynes of the throate, called Angina. But vsed in woundes or sores, put in no Salt, they heale the stinging of Bees: they be excellent good in Clisters, to purge the belly, raynes, and stone. The roote sodden and drunke, and eftsoones vomited, doth preuayle agaynst poyson: the leaues stamped, and tempered in oyle, do take running vlcers from the head. And sodden in vryne or pisse, do take away skurfe, skabbes. &c. from the Face. The roote sodden soft, and layed warme vpon a Womans breast, A medicine for womens breastes. with blacke woolle, doth heale the same, when it aketh, burneth, swelleth, or is harde. So wyll the leaues, one handfull sodden in Oyle and Wyne, purge Women, sayth Plinie. The leaues sodden in Wyne, warme applyed to the mouth of the matrix, after deliueraunce of the chylde, do stay the fal­ling downe, and maketh softe. They are good agaynst the Feuer, called Sa­cer ignis, the holy fire, which we call saynct Anthonies fire, sodden in Oyle & Uinegar, and applyed to the member, where as it burneth. The Seedes drunke in Wyne, doe clense the Stomacke from noysomnes, and rotten stinking fleume and melancholy. The Iuyce of Mallowes, often tymes drunke, helpeth the falling euill, and also clenseth y ^e Lunges, and causeth one to speake cleare, sayth Simeon Sethi.

There is also an other Mallowe, called Althaea, Althos doth signify medi­cine, or remedy: this Mallowe so named, is excellent in vertue. Althos do signifie medicine I thinke it to be that, which we call the French Mallowe: the leaues and the flowers be hoat and dry, in the first degree, and so be the rootes in the beginning of the second degree. Sodden wyth Swines grease, Goose grease, and Te­rebintin applyed to the belly, do aswage the greeuous swelling, burninge, or inflation thereof. The same medicine doth open things venemous with­in the members, that be stopped, sayth Dioscorides. Seeth the roote in wine, Dioscori. lib. 3 Cap. 146. and drinke this Wyne, it prouoketh vryne, clenseth the Raynes, easeth the stone, and is good for Ischias, called Sciatica, ruptures, and the bloudy flixe. Galen sayth Lib. vj. Simpli. medicamen. the Seedes be good for the stone and Raynes: the rootes sodden, do stop the bloudy flixe. Theophrastus sayth, to be drunke in sweete Wyne, it helpeth ruptures, and the cough, and wyth Oyle, it healeth vlcers. And sodden wyth fleshe it doth conglutinate, or ioyne together thinges separate within the body: and yet it digesteth, loo­seth, and concocteth crude matter, sayth Galen▪ The leaues sodden in whyte Wyne, quenche the heate, & abate the swellyng of a womans breast. Who is able to giue more cōmendation or prayse to any herb, than to thys herbe, for the singuler medicine called Dialthaea, which is in y ^e booke of Cōpoundes? [Page] Mallowes bee commended of all good Wryters. Plinius sayth, that the Mallowes in Arabia, Plini. Lib. 19. Cap. 4. within seuen monethes be fertill, & lusty in growing, that they be as bigge as staues forthwith, he calleth them trees. Furder he writeth a marueilous history of a Mallowe, which was monstruous to be­holde. There was sayth he, in Mauritania, sometime a garden (where Hy­sperides which were the .iij. daughters of Atlas, which kept y ^e garden) where­in grewe Orenges, called the Golden Aples, taken away by Hercules: in this Garden grewe a Mallowe, twenty foote long: and no man was a­ble to fadome the same. Sutch like Mallowes growe in Inde, and thus I ende of Mallowes, good friende Marcellus.

CUrst fellowes, and taunting Marchaunts, will say in derision, skorne, and mockage, when they be angry with others: I care not for theym, no, not a Rushe: is a Rushe of so small an estimacion, and nothinge worth, as it is counted?

RUshes doe grow in Fennes, and dry groūdes, and be common­ly knowen. And I my selfe did know a Rushe growing in a Fenne side, by Oxforde in Suffolke, that might haue spent three hundred Markes by yeare. &c. Was not this Rushe of good estimation? Sir Thomas Rushe. A fewe sutch Rushes be better, than many greate Trees & Bushes. But Marcellus thou doste not know that countrey, where sometyme I did dwel, at a place called Blaxall, neere to that Rushe Bushe: I would all Rushes within this Realme, were as riche in value: it would make a florishing common wealth, and mutch plenty, no Beggers, but ri­ches, and a golden Worlde.

THe olde prouerbe is, Wishers and Woulders, be no good househol­ders: Pouerty is better among the common people, than aboundaunce of riches. And if there were sutch plenty▪ face well labour, art, learning, and obedience: But neede is the pricke and whip, that causeth the Plowman to trauell, the Mariner to sayle, the Scholemayster to teache, and to conclude, euery man to labour in his calling, through which labour, and industry, the teaching of youth, the gouernement of age, the building of Cities, the mayntenance of good lawes, the rewarding of vertues, the punishment of vices, the defendynge of enemyes, and rewardinge of freindes, and obedience to Prynces be maynteyned. Whereas through sutch aboundaunce, all were cast away, and euery man would be a mayster. Euery one would disdayne seruice, and so at length, all should be tourned into slauery, If harpstrin­ges were of one degree, vnpleasaunte were that harmony. and the harmony of the Common wealth, should be chaunged into horrour, whereas no order is. Example, if all the Pipes in y ^e Organes, were of one tune, or one degree, vnpleasaunt were that Musike. But here wyll I stop, and lay a strawe, and fall into my byas agayne. I pray thee aunswere me, what a very Rushe is, which groweth in the fielde?

[Page 21] COmmonly knowen, and of sundry kindes, as Rushes grow­ing in Riuers, and running streames: as there be great plen­ty rounde about the Isle of Ely, my natiue countrey, where­of the playne People make Mattes, and Horse collers of the greater Rushes, and of the smaller they make lightes or Can­delles for the Winter. Rushes that growe vpon dry groundes, be good to strewe in Halles, Chambers, and Galleries to walke vpō, Olde Rushes and old cour­tiers, be past pleasure. defending appa­rell, as traynes of Gownes, and Kertles from dust. Rushes be olde Cour­tiers, and when they be nothing worth, then they be cast out of the doores, so be many that do treade vpon theim. A Rushe is called Iuncus, that is a Bull Rushe: the Rushe bearing blacke seedes, is called Atrifer, whose seedes drunke in Medicine, do stop flixe, and termes immoderate: Libr. viij. sim­plici. medica. and the same seedes be good for to cause sleepe. Galen speaking of Iuncus, sayth that some bare seede, which is good in medicine, that is, to bring sleepe. The other that haue no Seedes, be vnprofitable. Dioscorides sayth, the seedes of y ^e Rushe of Inde do bring sleepe, vsed in pocion.

There is also Iuncus odoratus, of two sortes, Plinie doth call the first Trian­gularis, it smelleth as sweete as the Rose, when it is broken. An other Rotu­dus, the Apothecaries doe call it Squinantum, and groweth in Africa, Diosc. li. pri. Cap. 16. but yet Dioscorides is of this mynde, that the best grow neere to Babilon: because this Squinantum is an Englishe herbe, vsed onely of the Apothicaries, wee haue it lyke Ote strawe, and is called Iuncus. The flower is Anthos, as all flowers be so named in Greeke: this herbe, flower, or roote, drunke with Peper, do helpe the Dropsy, being vsed: and is good for the lunges, splene, and Raynes. The roote of Squinans herbe, is hoat and dry, and is good a­gainst wynde, collike, dropsy, fleume or crude rawe matter in the body, or any member of the same beaten into pouder, and drunke in wyne.

OH how sweete and pleasaunt is Woodbinde, in Woodes or Arbours, after a tender soft rayne: and how frendly doth this herbe, Woodbynde. if I may so name it, imbrace the bodies, armes and braunches of trees, wyth his long winding stalkes, and tender leaues, opening or spreding forth his sweete Lillies, like ladies fingers, among the thornes or bushes? Is thys Woodbinde so profitable, as pleasaunt? I pray you tell mee.

WOodbinde is called Siluae mater, Caprifolium, Lilium inter spinas, Sondry na­mes of Wood­binde, as Pe­riclimenon, because it win­deth aboute y ^e next trees and Bushes, that it groweth vnto. Periclymenon. This herbe is so commonly knowen, that I neede not discribe the forme thereof: for thou hast done wel thereof thy selfe. But to the vertue of this Woodbinde, in temperament or nature, it is vehemently cuttinge and dry­ing, as Galen sayth, Lib. 8. Simplic. medicamentorum, the leaues bee sower. The oyle of this is good to anoynte any parte of the Body, that is numme or very colde: and the water is good to be drunke agaynst pissing of bloude. And also the Syruppe is good for the Lunges, or one dragme drunke in wyne, is very good for the Splene, that is stopped, or [Page] corrupt Lunges. And there is nothing (in oyntmentes for woundes of the head) better than this Woodbinde: and Woodbinde water is holsome for sores in the Throate and mouth. And it is sayd, that women, which vse to drinke plentifully, or mutch of thys water, are by the vse thereof made bar­ren.

THere is a long winding weede, hauing the property of Woodbynde, in spreding, winding, and imbrasing, or lasing, Bushes, braunches, and hedges: the Leaues somewhat lyke Iuie, and Flowers lyke to white Cuppes, or Belles, what call you it?

The Bell woodbinde Smilax. Dioscorides Lib. 4. Cap. 35 THis is called Helxine, Smilax, or Campanella, or the Bell Wodbinde, Antonius Musa sayth, the leaues in likenesse, colour and forme, be be­twene Mercury and Plantein. But Dioscorides sayth, they be lyke Iuie, and the Iuyce of the leaues drunke, or sodden in Wyne, doe make the Belly laxatiue: and nothing els can I report, but that it is noy­some among herbes and Flaxe.

WHat is the vertue of Senturion, which groweth almost in euery Me­dow, in May, and Iune? It hath sweete pleasaunt purple Flowers, and of diuers colours, and is soone gone after Iune commeth in.

Testiculi canis Dogs stones THis herb hath sondry names, as testiculus Canis, or Orchis, or in the Greeke Cynosorchim, Serapias, or Dogges stones. In the Byshoprike of Durisme, in a place called Warrell shyre, the people doe call it Crowfoote, although Crowfoote be ano­ther herb. This Testiculus, or sauing your reuence Ballocke Flower, hath two stones, and named Orchis, an other three stones, which is called Triorchia, with many spotted leaues, like a Snake. These be of kindes, Libr. iij. in Cap. 124.125 126.127. Male, and Female, great & little, of both sortes. Some will haue Satyrion, which you call Senturion & Dogges stones, both one: but they do erre, and mistake the matter, that make no distinction betwen them. For there is distaunce betwene them, by the iudgement of the Eye: although that in vertue, they be not mutch vnlike, and thus saith Petrus, An­draeas, Matthiòlus, vppon Dioscorides and he doth proue it by this reason: the rootes of Dogges stones be like other beastes stones, Satyrj are beasts hauing a heade lyke a man, & body like Goates and are named Gods of the woodes, and they first foūd this herbe of Venus, to stir vp carnall lust. they be long, two hā ­ging one higher then the other, that whych hangeth beneath is full, & will sinke in water, the other stone is hollowe, and will swimme. And this cō ­clusion did one mayster Ihon Sharman, an auncient good Practicioner of Northfolke, shew me long since: but the stones of the Satyre be round without greene, within very white, when the rinde is of, and swelled great, leaued lyke to y ^e garden Lilly, but smaller, bending to the ground: sone bro­ken, and three leaues in number. Then there is an other of the kinde of te­sticuli called Palma Christi, whose rootes be like hands, wyth fingers Auicen [Page 20] calleth them golden fingers▪ and be of nature of the greater testicles. The greater testicles be hoat & moyst, and eaten, eyther in Goates milke, Dia, or Syrupe, they will prouoke abundantly to Venus. But the little kynde, eatē eyther whole or in pouder, do quench, coole, and withstand the sayd Venus: and bringeth to dame nature, colde, trembling Saturne, whych is colde & dry. But Galen sayth, Satyrium or Satires stones, be hoat and moyst, sweete to taste vpon, and doe as the great testicles ▪ and more abounduantly, and be good agaynst running of the raynes, and consumption. &c. Gieuen to the frentike body, or one whose sinewes be weake in hand, in Polsy it helpeth them: The seede. ℈.j. fine in pouder drunke in wyne, morning and euening, or diner and supper, vsed a long time, healeth the falling euill. Nicolaus Flo­rentinus sayth, it helpeth the quartayne, and it stoppeth the bloudy flixe, sod­den in red wine, and healeth stinking vlcers, made in a Playster. Diasatirion is made of this, which is of vertue most excellent, as appeereth in the com­poundes.

What is the vertue of Ligusticum, called Louage, with the long blacke seedes, and long white rootes?

THe herbe is great, with large braunches, Fuchsius. stalke & leaues smel­ling mutch like to Smalage, but mutch sweeter: it is called Ligusticum, because it was first found in Liguria, Liguria is a part of Italy from the hill Apeninus, vnto the Tus­cum Sea. Dios. li. 3. ca. li and we cal it Louage here in England, y ^e Italians call it Ligustico: the roote, herbe, and seede, brused and sodden in wyne, or in the decoction of Ptisane, or Barley water, will clense the lunges, open the vesselles of the vryne, prouoke termes, or secret infirmities, heale woundes: being sodden and applied to Phlegmon, or hardnesse in any outward member, the sore is made softer. Eritius Cordus calleth this cō mon Angelica, but Manardus Epist. lib. xij. Epist. iiij doth cal it Alexan­der. Ruellius calleth it Lo­uage Galen. lib. 7. simplici. And warme applied in the maner of a plaister to the Belly of a Woman whose Chylde is deade, eftsoones it is sent forth from natures most secret Chamber. And the seede finely beaten in pouder, put in to some wholsome thin broth, or wine of a percing nature, doth skower the Raynes, clense the splene▪ and amend the lyuer, expulseth the secondes after the birth of children, and dryueth forth winde. Plinie sayth, that the seedes will stop the belly, and is good agaynst the byting of Serpents. &c. But the Seede eaten alone, prouoke vomites, and sometime therefore, sayth he, it must be giuen with Rewe, and so the seede is good for the dropsy. The rootes soddē and the decoction drunke, is very wholsome for the Femenine kinde, for y ^e matrixe, belly, precordials, and breast: It warmeth and maketh good con­coction. Thus I conclude of this Ligusticum. But Galen sayth, there be two kindes of them, the one he calleth Smirnium: the other doth grow in the mount of Amano, called Hipposellinum, which is called Smalage,

What say you to Apium, which is called Smalage?

THis herbe is named Hipposellinum, the great Persiley of Macedon, The vertue of Smalage, Louage, Alex­ander, Persi­ley is to open places, which st [...]p vrine and winde. whych we name Smalage: other say, it is Olus atrum, which is Alex­ander. Some call it Smyrnion, Marcellus and Brasauolus doe seeme eyther to [Page] mistake, or els vntruely to reporte of this Hipposellinum. For they saye the leaues bee roughe, and the roote blacke: But Dioscorides Lib. iij. Cap. lxiiij. doth saye, the roote is white and sweete, the leaues bee not rough. But Galen made very little distinction, betwene Hippofellinum, and Smyrnium: but this is one kinde of Persiley, the horse Persiley, or the Mountayne Persiley. Seseli, Smyrnium, Imperatoria, Elaphoboscum, and Alex­ander, The vertues of Persileis. al these seeme to be Perseleys. Some greater, and of more puissancy than other: some called Wyld, some tame. As garden Persiley, mountayne water, wood, or hedge Perseley▪ &c. and all these haue power both in roote, stalke, leafe, and seede, to open the raynes, bladder, and to bee put in euery Antidotarie, that moueth vryne, breaketh stone, or clenseth grauel. Or against collike, or stopping of the splene, with aboundaunce of melancholy. Sod­den in oyle any of these rootes, or Seedes drunke, they cast out strong ve­nome or poyson: but the seede is the strongest part of the herbe. They be good to be put into Clisters for the stone, or torment of the guttes: and in pultases, for swelling of the legges or armes. And all these be good agaynst the stinging of Serpentes, and feuers: swelling in the stomacke, or drop­sy, both in plaister, Clister, or drunke with cleane white wine, or Ptisan.

There is a stinking weede called Dogges tongue, wherefore is the same weede good?

IT is no weede, but a very good herbe, and is called Lingua Canis: Ruellius and Fuchsius doe erre sayth that famous man Matthiolus vpō Dioscorides, Cynoglossum. Dogstongue. But Licopsis is a kinde of Dogstongue, and called An­chusis. Dios­corides. Lib. 4. Cap. 24. in calling Dogstongue Lycopsin, for it is not so named, but Dogstongue. And there be ij. kindes of them, as sayth Matthiolus in Dioscoridem, lib. 4. cap. 12 [...]. which about Adryans dayes the Emperour, were found in y ^e sands, neere vnto Rome. This kinde of Dogstongue, hath neyther stalke, flower, nor seed, but out of one roote, there springeth leaues, lowe by the ground, in the compasse of a little weele, like Beane leaues, somewhat whyte, & wyth tender soft wolle. This herbe, sayth Pet [...]us Andreas Matthiolus, is like a wid­dow hauing no children. But there is an other Dogstongue, which hath rough seedes, with prickes in the middes like vnto Targets: which seede sodden and drunke, healeth tertians and quartens, and these smell like eche other, and be colde and dry in the seconde degree. And stamped with olde Swynes grease, do make a plaster for a Dogges byting: It healeth olde and newe cruent bloudy woundes. And mingled wyth Hony, it preserueth the hayre from falling, and will quench burninges, tempered wyth Uyne­gar, and sodden in red wyne, eyther drunk, or made in a plaster. It stoppeth the bloudy flixe, Fuchsius. and restrayneth Gonorrhaea, or distillation of the Seede, cal­led nature, ☞ vlcers, skabbes, poxe, or sutch like. But the first Dogstongue is the best to make Pilles wythall, for the reume and Catarre. Galen maketh no mention of this, but Dioscoris and others doe.

Dios. li. 4. Cap. 127.What is the vertue of Hippoglossum, which is called Laurus, or Horse [Page 23] tongue, as I haue heard say, by one that read me a peece of Dioscorides?

THis herbe, or small stirpe, is called Laurus Alexandrina, or Daphne, the Englyshe people call it the laxatiue Laureola. It dyeth not in Win­ter, it shyneth like Iuie, or Bayes, but is whitish. It beareth the berry within the leaues, red: it is hoate and dry of nature. If. ℈.4. or .vj. be sodden with Symphytum, called Cumphory, in Wyne, and so stray­ned and drunke, it will purge the belly. A little pouder of this, is gieuen to children in potage, to take away the abundance of humidity, & kil wormes. It maketh quicke or speedy deliueraunce, in childbirth, secondes, and termes drunken three peny wayght, two or three tymes sayth Plinie: Galen affir­meth that it forceth vryne. The leaues stamped, and bounde to the heade, Lib. 4. Ca. 127 take away the payne, sayth Dioscorides. Wyth this herbe, did that most no­ble victorious Alexander, sometyme tryumph, and his Captaynes, he wea­ryng the Diademe. And sometyme the best herbe of thys kynde, did grow vpon the Mountayne Ida, neere to the dolorous Citty of Troy in Phrigia.

What say you to Sanicula, called Diapensia, Sauicula and quinquifolium or the greate fyue leaued leaues, and other fyue leaued herbes?

AMong the herbes for woundes, this is mutch praysed, and doth heale woundes equally, wyth any other healing flow­er, roote, or leafe. The Toppes of this herbe, are not mutch vnlike Straburies, somewhat whitishe, and is called Sani­cula a sanandis vulneribus, of healing woundes. Sanicle hea­leth woūdes. It groweth in darke places in May, and is bitter, hoate, and dry in the seconde degree: the syrupe or iuyce of this herbe, is very good to be gieuen to wounded men, Women, and children, in small Wyne, or their other drynke. For it taketh effect both to heale, both within and without the bo­dy: if it be applyed hoate, vpon a swelling part or member, it will asswage the same speedely. The iuyce thereof is good also for Oxen, milche Kyene, Sanicle is good for Hor­ses & Kyen. and horses that be brused, or wounded: giuen eyther in their drinkes, or ap­plyed to the hurt member, or place. There is no speedier remedy to help the lunges, than this herbe sodden, and the decoction dronke vpon an empty stomacke. And what soeuer Cumphorie, called Symphyton, can doe in woū ­des, the same can Sanicle called Sanicula· It stoppeth the bloudy flixe, or hel­peth him that hath taken to stronge a purgacion, and stoppeth the immo­derate running of the raynes: now besides this Diapensia, wherof we haue spoken, there be hir kinsfolkes, called Pentaphillon, or Quinquefolium, whych hath fiue leaues in number. There be three sortes of them, the greate, the meane, and the little: these be commonly knowen rather by the formes a­mong the common people, than by their singuler goodnesse, which in deede they haue. As Dioscorides sayth. lib 4. Cap. 38. the rootes well sodden, and the same decoction drunken, helpeth the tertian, and the Mouth washed warme wyth the same, and so kept in the mouth, it taketh the paynes from [Page] the teeth, and stinke, filthe, and vlcers from the same, and is wholsome in a gargarisme, A good gar­garisme, to washe the throate▪ for paynes in the throate. And if the leaues be well sodden, or the iuyce, with Endiue or Planten water and the same drunk eyght daies, helpeth the yellowe Iaūdice: in quotidians & quartens, this herb helpeth sodden in posset Ale. Also for the falling sicknesse, bicause it is hoat and dry, in the third degree: sodden in Uinegar, it killeth a Tetter or ringworme, it healeth the fistula, tempered with Salte and Hony, and stamped together, and put into the place or hole: The syrupe of this, drunke .xij. tymes, healeth Angina, or swelling in the throate, and stoppeth the immoderate fluxe of the Belly, and termes.

Fragraria Comaron or the Strau­bery, of the swee [...]e odour, so named.Mayster Andrewe Matthiolus, in his commentary vppon Dioscorides, cou­pleth Fragraria, called Strauberies, with these fiue leaued herbes. Although the sayd Straubery haue but three leaues, cold in the first degree, and dry the second. The leaues and rootes, will heale Woundes and vlcers, and a fluxe of bloud, and termes, it prouoketh vrine, and helpeth the lyuer. If they be sodden in cleane white Wyne, they do clense the raynes and bladder: & will clense the mouth, and strength the teeth, when they be lose. The distil­led water of Strauberies, will clense the darke mistes of the eyen: and al­so quenche heat in the face, To clense the face. and take away red spottes. And the same wa­ter is wholsome to delay Wyne at dinner and supper, specially for cholerike persons in Sommer. The berry it selfe being ripe, is partly hoate and dry, so some learned do affirme, but being not ripe, they be colde & dry. These ripe beries strawed into cleane clarifyed Hony, and put in the pouder of whyte Peper, For a short wynde. do helpe them, which haue short winde, and payne or strayghtnes in their breast or do vse mutch sighing, sayth Paulus Aegineta. There bee two kindes of Strauberies, the greater, and the lesser. Also Rubus idaeus, alowe Bramble, called Ribes, or Raspes. a bery like to the Straubery: these beries stop a flixe, sodden in red Wyne, and drunke oftentymes. Nothing may be compared to them in that case, and they quench saynct Antonies fyre. The leaues stamped, For to heale the Heme­roydes. sayth Dioscorides. Lib. 4. Cap. 34. do heale the Hemeroydes, to anoynt the place therewith: and also the vertue is to clense and dry. And this fruite or leafe, doth heale the sores in the mouth, and do close woundes new made with any weapon: and this fruicte stamped, and applyed plaster wayes to the stomacke, helpeth presently Cardiaca passio, and hoate paynes in the stomacke, For Cardiaca passio. and the burning paynes of the eyes, when the sayd eyes be almost starte forth, as they terme them, through great vomits, fal, foote­baule, leaping. &c. And they also kill these foule vlcers, that crepe through y ^e skin, growing vpon the head. The flowers of them, with fyne clarified Ho­ny, put into the eye, doe cleare the sight, and quenche heate, and dry vp wa­ter contayned in them. For red eyen. And of these Ribes called Raspis, be two kindes, the one wyth sharpe prickes, which be not so effectuall and good, as the other with tender prickes. And thus I ende of these beries, which haue the ver­tue of the Mulbery. Dioscorides. being an Hea­then man, ser­ued his prince in battell, and yet learned y ^e knowledge of herbes: But many profes­sing the name of Christ, wil neyther serue [...] one, or learn the other, ser­uauntes to i­dlenes, & abu­sers of tyme. And thus doth that olde famous Egyptian Knyghte and most learned man in herbes that euer was, wythout all comparison, called Phacas or Dioscorides wryte, he was subiect to Cleopatra the queene of Egypt, and to Antonius, and learned to know herbes in their kyndes most [Page 24] truely, and commended these herbes and berries aforesayd, whose workes be greatly aduaunced, and most cunningly handled nowe, by that famous learned Phisicion Petrus Andraeas Matthiolus Senensis. Anno salutis. 1558.

What is the vertue of Arum, which we in Englishe cal Cockowe­pintell? And some call it the burning herbe, or dragons mace?

THis herbe is commonly knowen, it groweth in the Springetime, Aron called Cucko pricke. leaued like Dragons, in moyste and dry places, and of natuure is hoat and dry in the first degree, and so it is without doubt in the third degree. The vertue of this Leafe, Seede, or roote, tempered with Cowes dunge, is good to make a plaster agaynst the Gout, sayth Di­oscorides. Plinie sayth the seedes thereof fynely beaten in pouder & tempered with clene oyle, helpe the sorenesse of the eare dropped in, the iuyce healeth polipus in the nose: and mingled wyth cleane Hony, it clenseth the darknesse of the eyes: and sodden hoat wyth oyle, it healeth Hemeroydes, as Plinie sayth, as I haue proued the vertue thereof often tymes.

What is the vertue of Maydenhayre, Called Tricomanes?

IT is an hearbe betwene hoat and dry, if it be sodden in Wyne, Maidē hayre. it breaketh the stone: it cleanseth the matrixe, bringeth downe the secondes, as Dioscorides and Galen say, the syrupe of this helpeth y ^e splene and lunges, the best doth growe vpon hard rockes. Great plenty groweth about Chiueat hilles in the North, called Ordo Lucis: so doth Ad [...]antum, whych is of the same vertue.

THat herbe which you do call Symphytum or Cumphory, you sayd before, Saniculum is equall with it. By this I do gather that this Cumphory is then equall with Saniculum. Wherein is their equality, in sauour, taste, or other vertues, I pray you tell mee?

NEyther lyke in forme nor taste. Symphytum. Solidago. Cumphory. Consolida. of the healing a comfortable herbe so na­med. First in forme the leaues bee lyke Buglosse, yea, or rather to Solanum, called the great night shade leaues, the rootes great and blacke without, and white within, flowers yelow. Secondly, the sauour and taste not pleasant, but y ^e vertues agree in this poynt, to heale woundes, yea broken bones, because they haue power to draw forth, and also to glew the seperated flesh toge­ther: it groweth in Rockes, euen so doth it in Gardens, it is of two kinds. &c. and is hoat and dry in the seconde degree. This herbe will draw forth filth from the Lunges, if it be sodden in sweete Water, and so drunke. And will effectually stop the blouddy flixe in men, and menstruall termes, when they do abounde in women immoderatly. To heales broase, or a falle. This herb assuredly doth heale men, when they be fallen from some high place, if the fall be not deadly. The [Page] lyke it doth to al maner of beasts. Chirurgens cānot misse it. Cōsider also, that there is a lesser kinde of Symphytum, of the third sort called Cōnsolida mi­nor, which is of the vertue of healing, both wythin and without the body, and for all broken bones, and doth heale foule sores in the pudent, or secret places of men & Women. These be sufferant medicines in meates for the wounded men. These be herbes of great vertues, and excellent in goodnes for mankinde: Consolido to heale, and may well proceede of the verbe Consolido, of healing y ^e which was brokē, or ioyning together things separated, to comfort or make them safe, either in Oyle, Salue, Plaster▪ &c. And thus I do ende of thys Symphytum.

What is the nature of an herbe, called Scilla or Squilla, or the Sea Onyon?

THere be two kyndes, whych of nature be hoat and dry, in the se­cond degree: and yet of a merueilous nature. For the outwarde rynde is very hoat and bitter, and the core is very colde: there­fore they must be cast both away, after the sayd Scilla is eyther ro­sted, baken, or sodden. For els it is euill, and hurtfull to nature, and thus it must be prepared. Cut of the leaues, which be like vnto the leaues of Alo­es, but not so groase. The fruit is as great as a boyes head, of Scilla whych is the greatest kinde. Goodly medi­cines be made both of Squil­la, and of Pan­cras, whych is the great and lesser sea Oni­ons. The seconde kinde is lesser, of the bignes of a great Onion or a Peare, and is called Pancras, these both spring or bring forth their yellow flowers three tymes in the yeare: and in the Canicular dayes, roaste it vnder the coales in a Paper, vntill it be soft, or els bake it in Clay, or els seeth it in shift of waters, vntill the water leaue bitternes, then take it forth and let it dry in a shadowie or dark place, couered with a cleane Linnē cloth then you may put to it Oximell, that is cleane Hony clarified, and sharp Ui­negar sodden together, whych is called Oximell simplex: and when the Scilla and this hath stand to gether in a close double glasse in the Sunne, all the Canicular dayes, or els to make more speede, all that is contayned wythin this glasse haue bin sodden togither, set it in a vessell with hoat boyling wa­ter, then it is called Oximell Scillitici which is of great vertue. This Oximell is good to be eate of them which haue paynes in the head, comming of cold, or for them whych be smitten wyth the fearefull sicknes, called the Falling euill, or Morbus comitialis, wyth opilacion in the head. It also is good for cold rotten Coughes, and stinking breathes, and chiefly for short windes in the spirable partes. It helpeth to aswage the swelling of the Splene, or the do­lour therein: and casteth out filth from the guttes, that causeth payne and tormenting wynde in them. But beware if any Byle, or festred sore be in the guttes, then vse it not to mutch. And it killeth smalle Wormes in the breast, and also clenseth the raynes and bladder, moouing vryne, and hea­leth the yellow Iaundice. The wyne thereof if it be sodden in wyne, after it is prepared, prouoketh vryne, and clenseth the raynes, and is good agaynst Dropsies. The oyle is good agaynst y ^e Palsey, and coldnes of the ioyntes, or trembling, for the Splene, and coldnesse of the Brayne or feete. The vi­negar clenseth the inward partes, To heale ryngwormes and Tetters. and also killeth Tetters, Ryngwormes, and Itche in the Skynne.

[Page 25]The seede beaten into pouder, and eaten with Hony, doth clense the Belly. Truly this is an herbe of great vertue, To heale ring wormes and tetters. as sayth Hippocrates. li. ij. Cap. 167. and Galen. li.viij. Simplicium medicamentorum. and is called the Onion of the Sea. And his Roote maketh a mollifying emplastrum, to make warm and softe a harde cold sore, comming of Melancholye, or cold and drye matter.

What is the vertue of the Marigolde, with golden yellow flowers

THe Marigolde, named Caltha or Calendula, because it flori­sheth al the kalendes of the yere: and is also named Sol­sequium, because it openeth his Flower, Marigoldes. and turneth round al the day after the Sun, and closeth in his goldē beames at night. This herbe needeth no further discription, it is so commonly knowen, and is hote and drye, the flowers wil change the haire, and make it yellow. To moue Sweate. And this herbe sodden in wyne, drunke warme, moueth sweat, and prouoketh termes mē ­strua [...], specially the flowers of this herbe, or the Syrupe. Perfumes of the same, will doo the lyke: the smoke of them to be made in a close subfumiga­tion, wil do the same. The iuice warme, put into the mouth, helpeth y ^e teeth if the aking come of colde.

What saye you of Nigella Romana?

THis is called Melanthium, which you do name Nigella: for Dioscorides doth remember this herb in, Nigella. Libro tertio. Capit. lxxviij calling it Githe, lyke Poppye. It hath blacke seedes, the leaues much lyke Coriander: the knoppes wherein the seede do growe, in the top haue little hornes, and is hoat and drye in the third degree. Brose it, and smell thereunto, put it in a Lynnen cloth, and holde it to the nose in the morning, and it wil stop a colde reuine: temper it with vineger, and it wil take away headache applyed thereunto Euen so it kyleth Woormes in the Bellye, apply­ed thereunto plaster wayes, mingled with an Oxe gaule: & the iuice dropped into the eye, healeth a disease called Epiphora, whiche is droppynge of theym. It is good for to drynke, to clense the Lunges, purge termes, put away wynde and collike, and kyl wormes. &c. Dronk in wyne, by the rea­son of the bitternesse, it maketh way and quick passage for the vryne: and skowreth cleane the bladder, except the stone be confyrmed in it. Agaynst poy­sone. It taketh paynes in the mouth, and teeth awaye. Receiued in warme with vineger, it preuayleth agaynst poyson, as eating of a Spider, or any venim: and drunke in wyne or whay certayne dayes, it wil draw milke into y ^e Breastes of womē, clense and encrease the same: with many other singuler vertues, as Dioscorides, Galen, Plinie, and Simeon Sethi affirme. Of Opium made of black Poppy. And wyld Cocle that groweth in Corne, is of the same kinde: and the iuice may be pressed foorth, [Page] as Opium, and preserued to medicine to cause sleepe.

What vertue hath Poppye, I pray you

THere is wyld Poppye, leaued like Rocket, & flowred like Rose: it groweth in corne, the seede redde, and is cold nere hande in the fourth degree, Of Poppye wyld and tame. Dioscorides affyrmeth, if this be sodden in water and applyed to the head, or drunke, it recō sileth sleepe. It also quencheth S. Anthonies fyer. called Sa­cerignis, or shingles, made in a plaster w ^t Oyle of Roses & Uineger. Acacia & this soddē togeather in red wine do stop y ^e bloody flixe and termes, which behard to be stopped. But this herbe ma­keth the memory very dull, to vse it much: but saffron, Myrth and the Oile of Bitter Almondes, tempered with the iuice therof, warme, put into the deafe eare, bryngeth hearing, if it be not incurable. Rose water, womans milke, and the whyte of an Egge beaten togeather put into the eyes, doth take awaye dimnes, A medecine for sore eyes very excellent burning, rednes, and swellyng from them, and clea­reth the syght. Nowe the greate Poppye, called Papauer of the Garden, which in Greeke is named Mecon there be of two kyndes, white & blacke in their seedes and Flowers, the whyte is best for it hath all the vertues, & many more than I haue wrytten of the wylde Poppye. Whyte Pop­py is the best. And the seede is good to be tempered with meate, to make breade, to geue to them that can not sleape: to be put into Milke and so eaten, at night, it stoppeth the belly Opiū is made of Blacke Poppy, which is colde, and is vsed in sleaping Me­decines: but it causeth deepe deadly sleapes. And thus I do ende of Poppye wyld, and tame.

What is Coriander of nature?

CORION called in Greeke, Coriandrum in latten, and beareth a round seede, Coriander. like in forme to a worme called Corus or Crinex: this herbe is commonly knowen, and is cold sayth Dioscorides lib. 3. cap 62. It healeth S. Anthonies fyer, Carbuncles, & suche lyke, burning things, but Galen obseruing more diligently the nature of this herbe, whose iudgement the greatest number of the wysest, & best learned do follow vntil this day, doth affirme in Lib. viij. cap 4. de compo­sitione medicamen, Galen doth dissent in this place, from Dioscorides, in the nature of Coriander. that it is altogeather hoat, & sayth he Si Coriandrum strumas dissoluit, quonam igitur pacto frigidum erit? that is, saith Galen, if Coriander do dissolue or wast the kurnels in the throat, called the kinges Euil, By what meanes then shal it be cold? for it is not possible that such grosse hard things should be wasted of cold things. But this doth both wast and as Simeo Se­thi affyrmeth, the seedes eaten with, or after meat▪ do warme the stomake, and retayne the meate vntil it be almost concocted. Therfore the conclusiō must be needes true, Plini. lib. natu. hist. li x [...]. c [...]p. xx. that it is hot and drye. Plinie wryteth to Marcus Varro Coriander beaten in pouder, & mingled with Uinegar, doth preserue fleshe from corruption in Somer:

[Page 26]But the vertue is in the seedes steeped with vinegar & dryed. But to drink much of the iuice of the herbe, doth take away the speeche, or causeth mad­nes: thus I end of this Coriander.

What is Foenigraece, commonly called Fenicricke?

THis herbe is lyke iii. leaued grasse, Dioscor. lib ij cap. xcv. and the seede groweth in a long Cod. The meale or pouder, of the sede of Foenigreeke called Fenecrike, hath vertu to mollify. Sodden in sweete water, it quencheth both within and withoute any inflamation of the body. The same being sodden in sharp vineger & Niter, applied warme to the left syde, asswageth the dolor and payne of the Spleene. E­uen so it doth the like to the liuer, hauing Oyle of Roses mingled therwith: Tenasmus. this seede is vsed in many mollifying plasters. The decoction dronke, and the seede applyed to the belly, doth helpe Tenasmus, which is a desyre to go to the stoole, and cannot, or a stinking flixe. Flegmon. And the oyle doth clense spottes and skars in the fleshe or skinne where as wounds haue beene, and helpeth Flegmon, wich is an impostimation of blood comming of heate aboue na­ture, gathered into some place of the bodye, and is hoate in the seconde de­gree, and drye in the fyrste, sayth Galen libro. viij. Simpl. medicament. Maister Luke of Lon­don. Of Foeni­greke is an excellent Fomentum made for the iyen, that be sore or dim: whiche I haue seene mayster Luke make, which is an excellent man, in the cure or Regiment for the eyes.

What say you then of Flaxe?

KNowen of euery bodye, but there be twoo kindes of Flaxe, Flaxe. the wilde Flaxe is not good: the comon sowne Flaxe, is good & profitable for linnen cloth, without which we shalbe like beastes, both at borde and bed. Linnen is comelye both for men & specially for women, and more commendable in the temple thā holly, and is called in Greeke Lynon, and our enlglishe woorde is Linen, y ^e Latten Linum, much like to each other in name. Galen sayth. lib. 7. simplic. medi­ca. The seede of Flaxe is hoare and moyst in the fyrst degree, yet somewhat drying in the middest: it hath vertue to mollifye rype, and breake Apostu­mes, if it be made in meale tempered in swynes grease and Mallow too­tes, warme applyed, in the manner of a Plaster. It is vsed in many mede­cins, and Clisters, with oyle of Roses, to clense sharpe costife humours: but it wil make the belly to swel, if it be vsed in the maner of meate, yet it wil stir vp Uenus, if it be eaten with pepper and Hony. The vertue of linte Oile. The decoction thereof is holesome to clense, mollify and rypen the apostimations in the secrete pla­ces of women so diseased or payned. The Oyle y ^t cometh therof hath many vertues: as for Printers to make their Inck of, for Paynters, to temper their coloures with, and for varnishing of boordes: for the Armorer in ma­king cleane Harnisse, and weapons, and Lampes. Flaxe Oyle, washed [Page] in iiii, or .vi. shifts of cleane colde water with a stick, vntil it turn whyte, thē with a Spoone taken foorth, for it wil swim euer aloft, this wil heale burnings, scaldinges, & hoat inflamations. This Oyle mollyfyeth hard sores, and is good for bone setters, for to strength the Sinewes, Iointes, and bones, for conuulsion, Hemerodes. &c. And if it be dronk after poyson, it wil caste it forth by vomittes, and clenseth the stomacke. Flaxe being fyne, is vsed with Repercussiues, as with Bolearmony, and whytes of Egges. Without f [...]axe, Chirurgians, can not work, nor helpe the eyes excepte fyne flaxe be in it.

THere is an herbe, which light fellowes, merily wil call Gallowgrasse Neckweede, or the Tristrams knot, or Saynt Audres lace, or a bas­terd brothers badge, Neckweede. with a difference on the left syde. &c. you know my meaning.

WHat, you speake of Hempe? marye you ferme it with many prety names. I neuer hard the like termes geuen to any symple, Hempe. as you geue to this, you cal it neckweede. A, wel, I pray you would you knowe the propertye of this Neckweede in this kynde beynge chaunged into suche a lace? This is his vertue. Syr if there bee any yonkers troubled with Idlenes & loytring, hauinge neither Learninge nor willinge Handes to laboure: or that haue studied Phisike so longe that he or they can geue his masters purse a Purgation, Many good medecines made of hemp. or his Chist, Shop. and Countinghouse a strong vomit, yea, if he be a very cunninge practicioner in false accomptes, he may so suddenlye, and cashlye minister, Perillous practicioners. be here discri­bed. that he may smyte his father, his Maister or his frende. &c. into a sudden incurable consumption, that he or they shal neuer recouer it agayn, but be vtterly vndone, and cast eyther into miserable pouerty, prisonment, bankroute. &c. If this come to passe, then the best rewarde for this practi­cioner, is this Neckweede. If there be any swashbuckler, common theefe, ruffen, or murtherer past grace, the next remedy is this lace or Corde. For them which neuer loued concord, A quicke. medecine. peace, nor honesty, this wil end al the mis­chiefe, this is a purger not of Melancholy, but a fynal banisher of all thē y ^t be not fyt to liue in a common wealth, no more then foxes among sheepe, or Thistles amonge good Corne, hurters of true people. This hempe I saye, passeth the new dyet, both in force and antiquity. If yong wantons whose Parentes haue left them fayre howses, goodes, and landes, which bee vici­ously, idly, vnlearnedly, yea or rather beastly brought vp, after the death of theyr sayd parentes, their fruites wil spring forth which they haue learned in their wicked youth: The misery of vnthri [...]tes semeth plea [...]saunt but shame & pain is the ende. then bankets and brotheles wil approache, the har­lots wil be at hande with delights and entisements. the Baude will do hir diligence, robbing not only the purses, but also the hartes of suche younge men, which when they be trapped, can neuer skape, one amonge an hun­dreth vntil Hemp breaketh the band among these loytring louers. [Page 27] The Dice which be both smal and lyght, in respect of the Coluering or dou­ble Cannon shotte or Bollet, yet with small force and noise can myne, break downe, destroy, and cast away their owne maysters, houses, fayre fieldes, pleasaunt woodes, & al their money, yea frendes, and altogeather, this can the Dice do. And moreouer can make of worshipful borne gentlemen mi­serable Beggers or theeues, yet for the tyme aloft syrs, hoygh chyld & turne thee, what should youth do else? I wis not liue like slaues or pesants, but al golden, glorious, may with dame Uenus, my hartes delyte saye they. What a sweete heauen is this? haue at al, Kockes Woundes, Bloode and nayles, cast the house out of the windowe, and let the Deuil paye the Malt man, a dog hath but a day, a good [...]ariage wil recouer al togeather: or els with a Barnardes Blowe, lurki [...]ge in some Lane, wodde, or hil top, to get that with falshode in an howre, which with truth, laboure, and payne, hath bene gathered and toyled for perhappes xx. yeares to the vtter vndoinge of some honest family. Here thou seest gentle Marcellus, a miserable Tragidy of a wicked shameles lyfe: I neede not bryng forth the example of the Pro­digal Chyld. Luke. xvi. Chapter, which at length came to grace: It is, I feare me in vayne, to talke of him, whose end was good, The innocente sometyme dy­eth in the eyes of man moste miserablye. but a great num­ber of these, flee from grace, and come to endes most vngracious, finishinge their lyues onely by thys Hempe: Although somtime the innocent man di­eth that waye, through periury for his owne propper goodes, as Naboth died for his owne vineyarde, miserable in the eyes of the World, but preci­ous in the syght of God. This is one seruice which hempe doth.

Also thys worthy noble herbe Hempe, called Cannabis in Latten, The consideration of Hempe in Phisicke. can not bee wanted in a common wealth: no Shippe can sayle, without Hempe the sayle clothes, the shroudes, stayes tackles, yearde lines, warps, & Cables can not be made without it. No plow nor carte can be without ropes, hal­ters▪ trace. &c. The fysher and Fouler must haue hempe to make their nettes. And no Archer can want his Bowstring: and the Maltman must haue it for his sackes. With it the belle is rong to seruice in the Church, with many moe thynges profytable, whiche are commonlye knowen of euery emanne to be made of hempe. Now furthermore there be two kynds of Hempe, the wyld which is hoat and drye in the second degree, and is called Te [...]minalis stā ped with Oyle of wormewoord, and warme applyed to the Bellye, it doth asswage swellyng, and with swynes grease, the same doth rype apostumes of sores. This wyld hempe hath leaues lyke to the Garden hempe, but rotes and seedes lyke vnto Mallowes. Hempe wil kil woormes. The Garden sowen hempe is also hoate & dry Plini lib. xx. cap. xxiij. This herbe and seede sodden, & strongly pressed, or the iuice strayned, and powred vppon the earth, doth not onely bryng forth wormes for Fishers▪ but also dropped into the eares, doth kyl wormes that be crept into them. And Galen lib. vij. simplicium medicamentorum sayth: that to eate much of the seede, doth drye vp the seede of Generation, & is an ad­uersary to the head and bringeth euil humours. Simeon Sethi sayth: Hempe quen­cheth naturall seede. it dry­eth seede as much as doth Camphire, and is hard of digestion, and hur­teth as Coriander doth y ^t is immoderatly eaten, which bryngeth madnesse. [Page] How be it the sede or leaues sodden, and warme applyed to the handes or feete, do helpe agaynst the contraction, or shrinkyng of Sinewes, whiche commeth of colde and is helped through the heate of this herbe And all syn­gyng byrdes which be plentifull in laying of Egges, they reioyce greatlye in Hempe seede, as in their chiefe delicious foode. And thus I haue no more to say, but to answeare to the next question my deare fellowe and Frende Marcellus.

Now I pray you, what is Barly of nature?

COmmonly knowen [...] al this Realme, it is the mother of the best Malt, Hordium. Barly. whero [...] both Bere and Ale is made: there is Barire double, or with fower set, and syngle two set The greattest and whytest is best, and it is colde and dry in the fyrste degree: and doth not noryshe so muche as Wheate. Of this Barlye, being hulled and clensed from the rynde, beaten or broken, is made the noble drynke cal­led Ptisana: apound beyng put into ten poundes of Cleane water, sodden vnto halfe, P [...]ison made of Barly, wil quench choll [...]r into a stone pot, or tynned vessel, close in the mouth, standing vntil it be colde, and then let it runne through a strayner, and so drynk sim­ple of this, for it wil quench hoat burninge Choller aboue nature, in vehe­ment feuers. You may put in the feedes of whyte Poppy, and Lettice not onely to coole, but also to reconsyle sleape to the afflicted with the Feuer to clense corruption of the Lunges, and horsenesse, with shortnesse of wynd Put in Figges, Liquoris, Annisseedes, Reysynges of the Sun, and a little Hysope with Suger: seeth al, and let it stand close vntill it bee colde, and strayne it wyth a strayner, and so drynke therof, for the foresayd shortnesse of wynde. To helpe the lunges. Seeth Barly meale, Lint seede, and Fenegreke seede, and the iuice of Rew with Malmesye, warme applyed to the belly, wil put awaye swellyng and paynes in the guttes. The meale therof sodden in vineger, wil asswage the hoate burnyng goute: and this is good agaynst all hoate inflamations of the body. And seeth Barly in Hony, Rosen, and the iuice of Chelidon, and it wil heale an old rotten sore. With Oyle and Fenegreeke, meale, Agaynst inflamacion heate, or swellynges in the body. it wil asswage the swelling of the precordal or stomacke. Melilote, Poppy and Hony tempered togeather, do helpe the swellynge heate of the Priuy members, paynes of the sydes or Flesh, which is gone from y ^e bone with many other goodly vertues, which Barly hath as affyrmeth Dioscor. lib. ij. Cap. lxxix. & Galen lib. j de aliment. facult. and Theoph. lib viij. Cap. de plan­t [...]rum Historia. The bread & drynke of the poore be the lyfe of the needy: and he that taketh it a­way frō them is a murderer. Barly is the Principal Uine grape of Englande, that oure Malt is made vppon. And mother of our Beare and Ale, whiche Malte in the tyme of our extreame neede, hath beene solde awaye into forreine realmes by certayne old knowen theeues called Humber, and Lin hauen with their branches: from Cambryge, S. Iues, & Milden haule, Thetford and Brādon fery & also Yermouth in Norffolke, I pray god amend y ^e mar­ket, & stay such practices, that for the priuate comodity of a few, a great multitude be not famished. And now what haue you els to say.

[Page 28]

IN the eyght leafe of Simples, you speake but a little of Bar­ly and also of Beanes and Pease, but smallye to the pur­purpose, to myne instruction. Therfore shew me a little more of their natures, because I am a rural man of the country▪ and loue Pease and Beanes, and as I heare tell, many good medicines be made of them to helpe in the tyme of Sicknes. I haue good plē ­ty of them, more than any other Poticary stuffe.

FABA called Beanes among pulse be very wyndye, A more larger discription of Beanes and Pease. Pythagoras [...]ayed thus: Faba abstineto that is absta­in from Bea­ues. Plinie & Tullie say, be cause of the ingendryng of grose humors he forbade thē Aristoxenes. and Empedo­cles affirme y ^t by abstaining from Beanes he meant Le­chery or filthy lustes. Plutarchus sayeth that it was to be­ware, to be in office. in a cō ­mon wealth be cause it is soperilious For coddes swelled. and brynge greuous dreames. Pythagoras would not suffer his Schollers to eate them: be lyke terrible infernal dreames did follow, which did hurt the wyt, and the eye syght. They be cold and dry in the fyrste degree, I neede not descrybe them: euery man knoweth theym. Beynge wel sodden with Mintes, they do stop vomittes and the flixe, if the fyrste water wherein they bee sodden, bee cast awaye, and then yee seeth theym in the seconde, so they bee lesse wyndye and hurtful. Beane Meale, called Lomentum, by it self▪ or with Barly Meale and Uineger doth quench inflamations, and mollify hoat hard Apostumations, and the Gout, soddē wich swynes grease. This meale dryeth vp wounds, & milke in the pappes or breastes of women. Temper it with Fenegreeke and Hony, then it wil heale Furunculum, called a Fellon, and it doth the lyke to pushes, in any part of the body. Temper this meale with whyte Frankynsence, the whyte of an Egge, and Rose water: this helpeth sore swelled or droppyng eyene. And this tempered with oyle and vineger, doth asswage the swellynge of the coddes of men and boyes, warme applyed vnto thē. This meale doth clense the face of women, washed therwith, tempered in colde milke at nighte. & strayne it through a cloth .xx. tymes, and let it dry on. And in the morninge with a hard Lynnen cloth softly wet in cold water and Milke, stryke or wype the face therwith, and kepe it from the Sunne, lyke good huswyues spynnyng a threede of smal thrift vntil night for their labour: Marye then if they wil a mornings, rake in ii. or iii. Reisynges, halfe a drame of yellowe Alows then flusshyng wil the sooner depart from the face, by that meanes of opening the Liuer and specially if it be in sommer. I referre the worthye consideration of this Beanes to Galen lib. vij. simplicium medic. Althoughe he therto I haue not only alledged hym, but other as Dioscor. lib. ij. cap. xcviij. whiche by him in Greeke is called Cyamos, Beanes in the old tyme were vsed for lottes in deede they wil partelye moue Venus luste. And in thold tyme the general assent & consent, as in a parlia­ments, elections or questes, were al declared by Beanes. The whyte beanes did graunt or affirme, and the Blacke beanes did denay or refuse: And thys maner doth stil continue, in many places of Europe. As in that moste worthy riche, and noble citty called Uenice, which began Anno. a partu virgi­nis. 54. When Uenice fyrst began▪ Of a fearful nomber of people which fled frō the cruel hands of a fa­mous Tyrant Called Attila, the Kyng of Hūgary, who brake into Italye, & distroied many places, & amōg al y ^e most aūcient city, & chief mart of Europe, called Aquileia, which is now of no estimation. Of this lost city, be these ve­necians come, which haue vsed hetherto to nomber with Beanes. [Page] The most worthy, noble, learned, and valiaunt Familie of the Romaynes, wherof tooke they their names, The olde Ro­maynes were more humble than the newe Romaynes. & late Popes, in keping na­mes of bafelti­tles. I pray you? Of any noble old citty, as The­bes Troie. &c. Or of any valiant beast, as a Lyon, Tyger, Panthar. &c. No forsooth. They tooke theyr names onely of pore Beanes: Fabius Portius, and theyr worthy auncestours were sowers and sellers of Beanes, and keepers of swyne, and for their vertues, were aduaunced, and kept stil their names. Although the sacred Uickar of Sathan, called the Pope, kept not his olde name: as example. If he be christened Marke, Laurence, Cornelius. &c. Wel when he is degenerated, or triple mitred, then he is new named, Leo, Cle­mente, Paulus, Boniface. &c. A very Anabaptiste, or ashamed of his name receyued in Baptisme. Welfare the old Ethnicke Romaynes, which excelled the new counterfecte Christian Romaynes, whiche were not ashamed to haue Base names, as Fabius had of Beanes and Cicero of a Fytche or Tare, tooke his name, The tyme of Cicero. and for eloquence, his lyke was neuer founde: and was before Christes incarnation fourty yeares. Piso that auncient name of a noble family of the Romaynes, tooke their name only of Peson: whose parentes wer plowmen, Of base parentes spring no­ble children and sellers of Pease.

Therfore of Pease, let vs say some thing of their properties, and vertues more than we haue declared in lib. Simplic. And fyrst from whence they came, and why they be called Pease, and in Greeke Pison, in Latin Pisum. The fyrst spryng of them was most plentiful in Greeke in a Country called Pelo­porensus, Pease came fyrst from Pi­so in Greece. in which was a noble city named Piso, by the riuer of Alpheus. A­boute which citye euery fyue yeares, the nobles and moste worthy Greci­ans, did proue al manner of maisteryes, and made tryumphes, pastimes, and playes, in the honour of Iupiter Ouid ij. de arte: Lo, this Pease came frō Piso, and be now in the most part of Europe, aswell as amonge the Greci­ans. And of nature they be of a meane temperament, colde and drying, and in al poyntes lyke vnto Beanes, but not so windy: and more better for nourishing the body, and more clensyng the belly, sayth, Galen, and Paulus is also of the same mynde. Let both Pease and beanes be wel watred, hulled and tenderly sodden, the best pease pottage, in shy [...]t of waters, before you do eate them, & drawen through a Colender or strayner with Onions, Mintes, & Pepper. sodden w ^t them. then they wil not hurt the stomacke, or moue wynde, but clense the raynes, and make fatnes, increase with seede of generation.

Tares do the same, and nourish Milke, clense the Liuer, Gaule, spleene, raynes, & the Mouth of the Bladder: sodden in wyne, or w ^t diuritike, or o­pening herbes as Persely. &c. Theophrastus commendeth them. lib. viij. Cap. v de historia. plantarum, the whyte bee the beste. There is thankes be geuen to God, no smale plenty of Beanes, pease, Fytches and Tares, growinge in England: both whyte and graye pease, the lyke of the Beanes, to the gret comforte of men, A practice of Inholders & their horse stealers. horse and swyne: Although many Inkepers with theire hostlers, through a cast of legerdemayne, can make a pecke of Draffe and Beans, buye thre Bushels of clean pease or Beanes, wherby the pore Hack­ney horse if hee colde speake, as well as Balams Asse did, mighte call his host knaue for his labour, and wysh the Pillory to be hys Ghostlye Father. [Page 29] For although an horse doe both lacke money in hys purse, and reasona­ble wit in his head: yet without all doubt, he is the best bond slaue, in the common wealth, and least can be forborn, as it appeareth in his seruice, A horse is a good seruaunt & taketh moste paynes for mā of any liuinge beast. Pease gro­wing on the one accorde, without so­wing where no earth but stones was. both in warre and peace. &c. And seynge his drynke is so good cheape, it is villay­ny to rob him of his meate. For of al creatures, he suffreth most payne in bo­dy: but I wil meddle no further in stable matters, but end of that, which I haue taken in hande, that is of Pease Anno salutis. 1555. in a place called Or­ford in Suffolk, betwene the Hauen and the mayne sea. wheras neuer plow came: nor natural earth was, but stones onely, infinite thousand ships lo­den in that place, there did pease grow, whose rootes wer more then iii. sadome long, and the coddes, did grow vppon clusters lyke the chats or keys of Ashe trees, bigger then fitches, and lesse then the fyeld peason, very sweet to eate vppon, and serued many pore people dwelling there at hand, which els should haue perished for hōger, the scarcity of bread was so great. In so much that the playn pore people did make very much of Akornes, & a sic­nes of a strong feuer did sore molest the commons that yere, the like wherof was neuer hard of there. Now whether thoccasion of these peason & proui­dence of god came through some shipwrack with much misery or els by mi­racle, I am not able to determine therof: but sowen by mannes hand they were not, nor lyke other Pease. Of Otes cal­led Auena. or Bromos. And thus I do ende of Pease Beanes and Tares which be good for man, horse, swyne, geese, & hennes.

And now I shall answeare you of Otes whiche in Greeke are named Bromos, & Auena in Latin: they be wild and tame of nature, sowen in March and rype before mid August. Otes do clēse the Lunges. And of Temperament they be colde in mede­cines, and are of the same vertue that Barly is in cleansynges, and in plas­sters they haue the same effecte also. They partly warme and dry inward­ly: thus sayth Galen lib. vij. simplicium medicamentorum, are of a bynding vertu agaynst the flowing of the Guttes, and are good agaynst Coughes, or foul­nes of y ^e Lunges. And Plinie saith lib. xxij. cap. xxv. Otes sodden in Uineger do take away molles, blains or spottes. And Otes are a good grayne in the common wealth, for men, horse, and foules, as they haue little other breade in many places of Wales, and Darbishyre. In Northumberland, horse haue as great plenty to eate of them, Plenty of O [...] in Northum­berland as men haue in most places of this realme eyther Wheat or Rye, for their owne foode. And in the Northe this grayne is called Hauer, the Southern people cal them Otes, the It alians, Vena, y ^e French Auoine, the Arabians Cartamum, or Churtal: and thus I haue ended of Beanes, Pease, Otes and Fytches, my frend Marcellus.

What say you of Wheate wherof our bread is made which is our common foode, and best grayne.

[Page] THe Greekes do cal Wheate Pyro, many yeres before the name of Triticum was found: which is Latin for Wheat. Triticum ve­ro dicitur, Tritticum. Wheate, or our breade. quod tritum ex spicis sit. It is called wheate, for that it is threshed, or brokē from the Eires wherin it groweth) as saith Marcus Varro. The kyndes be wel knowen both red and white wheate, the tasseld o [...] long eared wheat, and the naked or polled Wheate. The tyme, maner, and place of Sowing, Reaping, Thressinge, Gryndinge, Baking, and eating, is naturally knowen throughout all this realme. Euen so the ingrossiue keping vntil it corrupt, and sellinge yt in to other forreine realmes, is known to thē, who neither feare god, obay their Prynce, or loue their neighbour. And the natural complexion of Wheate, is hoat in the first degree, vsed in plasters. Wheat meale tempered with the iuice of Henbane, doth stoppe the fluxe of the Sinewes, and the inflamation of the Guttes, as sayth Dioscorides Lib. ij Cap. lxxviij. The Bread that is leauened, is better to make a plaster for the stomacke, than the meale. The iuices of Mintes. Reu, Sage, To feede of Branne, ma­keth a man leane but flo­wer bryngeth fatnes. wormwood. &c be good to mingle with meale, or crummes of breade in Plasters for payned stomackes, put in vineger. A plaster of y ^e Bran with vineger, and the iuice of sower Pomegranets, warme applyed to the bellye, doth stoppe the flixe, and swelling in the guttes. Many goodlye vertues be­long to Wheat, the Branne nourisheth little, & bread wherein much Bran is lefte, Meale and Waxe haue made great marchauntes at Rome. shal make the common feeder therof leane. And the pure meale no­risheth, and maketh fatnesse to increase: of fyne meale, Starch is made. &c. The kyngdome of Antechrist hath not alitle enriched it selfe, by Meale and Waxe: they haue sold them deare. And manye a man hath loste his lyfe, by constantly affyrming, The verye Diuynes & Dūs­men did neuer agree general­ly. that meale would only be changed into bread, but not into flesh. The determination therof, I leaue to y ^e learned Diuines, but not to the Dunsmē, whose distinctiōs ma [...]al, in y ^e chyefest point in our religiō. &c

And yet more of Wheat, this precious grayn and corne Theophrastus. lib. vij. cap iiij. doth name in many places of the diuersity of Wheate: as Aphrica Thrasia, Pontus, Assiria, and, Aegipt. &c. And in all these places, Wheate doth differ in shape, colour, greatnes, he wryteth maruaylously of the kyndes of Wheat. He obserueth the nature of euery soile and land, and of the mantions vnder Heauen, and the climattes, and sayth in Asia beyonde the Coun­trye of the blacke Trions, the Wheate graines bee as bigge as greene oliues, The sondry kyndes & matures of wheat. which bee as big as Nutmegges. The Sunne and the soyle is of such vertue, and more prodigious wonders wryteth he of Wheate. Plinie. lib xviij. cap vjj. of al Wheat in the World, there is none to be compared in good­nes vnto the Wheate of Italy, for whitnes and wayght. In Spayne there is little Wheat but the Wheat which they haue is very clean, & there breade as whyte as the mean bread of Yorke, Wel, I haue sufficiently wrytten of bread in his place: Wheat wil turne and degenerate out of his kind, and be changed into Darnel. Specially in weate yeres, so sayth Matthiolus in Dis­cordis. lib. ij cap. lxxviij. Wh [...]at wil de­generate out of kynde▪ that is from Wheat to Darnell. I haue sene the like in a Fe [...]ld named Helly, in a town called Kelshal in Suffolke. There be Tonges and Irons made accordingly, which beyng made very hoat, do presse forth the Oyle of Wheat, which will heale vicers and woundes, and all chappes, and open places in the handes, [Page 30] Lyppes and feete, through the sharpenes of the North wynde in March: Plasters of Meale, Leauen. Salt, Uinegar, Butter & Oyle of Roses tem­pered togeather, warme made in a Plaster vpon Leather, and applyed to the breast, or any place of him, which hath fallen from some high place, A plaster for a brosed body if he be curable, it healeth him, geuinge him Vnguentum potabile to drinke, and roule the pacient with a long roller or towel, and thus I do end of Wheat, the most precious and best grayne, for the foode of mankynd, & is our dayly bread:

What be the Lupines which the Greekes call Thermos

THey be lyke Beanes, hauing seauen leaues. Lupines. somwhat like Beares foote, and are commonly knowen: whose Meale mingled with Hony or licked vp, or drunke, doth cast wormes out of the bellye. And made in a plaster, and applied to the belly, it doth y ^e lyke to children: sodden in Uineger, it helpeth the Kinges euil, beyng made in plaster. And also doth breake a pestilence sore, layed on warme. To kil wor­mes wi [...]h Lupines. And seeth Lupines in rayn water vntil they be wasted, strayne this water, and when it is cold wash thy face and it wil clense it from foulenes and spottes. Myrthe, Hony and Lupines incorporate togeather, and rolled in Wolle, make therof a Pessary, and conuey it into the place, and it wil dryng forth the dead childe, & force the men­strual termes. This herbe and seede thereof, wil kil Cancers, and skales in the hedde: tempered with hogges grease, Uineger and Brymstone. Diosco, lib 2. Cap. ciij. Seeth it in Persely water, or whaye, and it wil clense the bladder, and prouoke vrine: and drunke with Uineger, it clenseth the stomacke, helpeth digestion, & expulseth al noysomnesse, or abhorryng of meate. Lupines, sayth Galen, be of an earthly substaunce, and engender euil humours: to be eaten as meate, they bee hurtful, but in medecine good. And they be bitter hoat and dry.

What is the goodnes of Staphis. Agria?

THis herbe Staphis Agria; is called also Pedicularis: for if it be mingled w ^t Oyle, it wil kil Life, nothing better for Lousy children, & Haukes. Staphis agria Pedicularis. a seede that wil kill life in children, an hauke. &c The leaues be lyke the wyld Uine with blew flowers, and is hoat & drye in the fourth degree. If fourteene seedes stamped, or broken in sweete Water, be Dronke, it will purge grosse, crude, rawe humoures by vomite: but he which drinketh it, ought to walke after it, sayth Diosco­rides. lib iiij cap [...]j. And furder sayth he, the drinker therof, most prouidentlye geeue attendaunce, to drynke sweete water, vnlesse, els hee be strangled w ^t the medecine. This seede with Oyle of Tartar. killeth tetters, itchinge, & as they term it, mangines: sodden in Uineger, warme holden in the mouth doth helpe the paynes in the teeth, and stoppe the reume. And with Honye healeth vlcers in the mouth, but it is perilous to bee taken downe, because it burneth. And is good to make an Apophl [...]gmatum with: A plaster to bryng forth a deade child. it clenseth the matrix of women, made in a plaster. Plenty of this doth grow in the countries of Apulia, & Calabria in Italy: & this I ende of this. What haue you els to stay?

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What is that sleaping herbe called Solanum and his fellowes I praye you?

IT is called Solatrum, Solanū, or Morel, in English y ^e great sleping Nightshade, or Dwal. And of this there bee .3 kyndes among vs in England, as the great Morell, y ^e litle pety morel, Solanum Nightshade▪ the sleping Dwall. or Night shade, & Alkakengi, which is the Uesicke or bladder herbe, to clense the same and open, skower, and purge the vessels of the vryne. The greate Nightshade, with blacke beryes, lyke rounde Plummes, which be venemous when they be eaten, bryngeth vtter mad­nes or death: the lesser causeth much sleepe. These be colde and drye of com­plexion, as Galen sayth, lib. v. cap. ix. Dioscorides sayth, that petty Morrell lea­ues, because of nature they be cold, their iuice w ^t Barly Meale doth quench Sacer ignis, or that we do call saynt Anthonies fyer: and by them selues stamped, do helpe the burning of the head, or swelling togeather vnder y ^e toung, applyed to them. This iuice drunke doth helpe the yellowe Iaundice, and burning of Choller: Drinke but a little sodden wyne of this morrell .3. ii. will suffice. but if you be euil at ease after them, then drynk Oximel Simplex, with warme hote water, and put your fynger in your mouth, & vomit. The mad greate Nightshade, is colde in the extreme degree, if one drinke one drame, sayeth Plinie thereof, then they begin to play theire pagi­antes, past shame. But if they drynke two dragmes, then they shalbe star [...] madde: but if they eate or drink three dragmes, then ensueth present death, & this venom is called Doricmō. The Alkakingi or Kengi hath beries like Cheries wrapped in a closse Husk with many synguler vertues to coole, to cause sleepe, moderatly vsed or taken, I mean their iuices in Ptisant. But chief­ly it excelleth, for the stone with Parsely, Fenell, Asparagus, the foure lesse cold seedes, ana ℥.ii. and damaske Prunes .xvi. in nomber, stamped wel to­geather and put into cleane whaye, or Barly water, standing .xii. howres, putting thereunto ʒ.ii of fyne Reubarbe, Then strayne it, and drawe into the same Potion. ℥.ss. of good Cassiafistula, or Uenice Turpentine, cleane wa­shed. ℥.ss. then drynke the same in the Morninge: A good mede­cine for the stone & raines this wil breake the stone if any medecine can do it, & clense the raynes, and heale anye sore in the same, annointinge the backe with Oleum Scorpionis. And thus I do end of Solanum Hortense, called petty Morel, whiche is good in medecine, both in wardlye to coole, and also outwardlye to coole the heade, to helpe the eyes from heate, tempered with the whyte of an Egge. &c.

What is the vertue of Henbane. I pray you tel me?

[Page 31] HEnbane is called of the Greekes Hyoscyamus, it is also called Altercum of the Arabians. This herbe doeth kill swine, An herbe of venome tho­row colde, called Hen­bane. except they be driuen incontinently, through a great streame of water, & is called the Swines bane. The nature there­of was fyrst found by Appollo. This Henbane is of three kyndes: the blacke, the yellow, and the white. Three kyndes of Henbane. The white is more better for medicine, than either the yellow, or blacke. The seedes be as plentifully growing within the codde, as the seedes of Poppie, both in forme and bignes: it groweth vpon dungehill sides, or els vpon old ruines, and a­bout broken walles, and is ripe in the moneth of Iuly. The temperament or complexion of the white seede, is cold in the thyrd degree. The white Henbane is▪ vsed in medi­cine. The other twoo seedes be venemous, and full of poyson. This white seede is good, with the ointment of Roses. to be laied vpon an hoate goute, or swelling of the priuye members, or breastes of a woman, which swelleth or burneth. A halfpenye weight of this seede beaten in pouder, with asmutch white Poppie seede, drunke in sweete water, or the water of Plantain, doeth not onely recon­cile sleepe, but stoppeth also spitting of bloud, and helpeth the rednes of the eyes. The leaues of this white Henbane▪ Barly meale, & Uinegar, bee good to make a plaster, to quench the burnyng of the raynes of the backe, or ex­treame headache which commeth of Choller, and also it helpeth all inflama­cions. Dioscorides sayeth, this seede drunke in wine, doeth heale a Feuer cal­led Hepyalas: euen so doth the iuice of the leaues. But if this herbe be vsed, ei­ther in sallet, or in potage, then doeth it bring frensie and madnesse: the roote sodden in Uinegar, dooeth helpe the payne in the teeth. Galen also doeth vt­terly refuse the blacke and the yellow seede, as poyson: but the whyte hee doeth accept as medicinable. Plinie doeth commend the same whyte, saying: if it bee stamped with Hony, it healeth the bityng of a madde Dogge. And w ^t Wyne, agaynst y ^e bityng of Snakes, And against thoughes, & streight­nes, through great extreame filth of the lunges. The oile thereof helpeth the deafnes in the eares, dropping in but little. Plinie would that none shoulde vse more than fower leaues of this herbe, or the iuice thereof at once. For who so vseth more, shalbe in daunger to sleepe without waking. And thus I ende of Henban, whych is also called the poison, or bane for Hennes.

What is the nature of Humlocke, that stynkyng weede?

HUmlocke is called Cicuta in Latin: the Greekes call it Koneion, The moste colde herbe and a poyson· that is to say, a tiraunt or killer of men, for it is cold aboue nature, if it be ta­ken within the body. The cruel murtherers of Athenes, did most trai­terously, maliciously and falsly, poison their chief patrone, and well sprynge of learnyng, called Socrates, an excellent Philosopher, Sonne to Sophroniscus a Mason, and Phanarista, a midwyfe, which were his Parentes. Thys man when he had best the knowledge of naturall Philosophye, gaue himselfe to morall Philosophye: he was vertuous in lyuing, and disputed against them, that were called Sophistae. This mannes breastes of learnyng: gaue forth the [Page] milke of knowledge, vnto the most famous clarkes: Plato, Xenophon, Xeno­crates. The death of Socrates was wyth wine, and the iuice of Hum­locke. And after he had taught a longe tyme in Athenes, he was by the Ma­lyce of Anytus and Miletus accused, to haue spoken agaynst their Gods: wher­fore he was condempned to death, whose death was the iuice of this Hum­loke, called Cicuta, mingled with wyne. After which drynke, hee dyd expyre the breath of Lyfe, before the yeere of Chrystes incarnacion .367. Dioscorides sayth, To helpe him that hath drunke Hum­locke. who so euer drynketh of this venemous iuice, the remedy is onelye to drynke a great draft of clene new wyne alone without any other myxture put thereunto with speede. The iuice of this, saith he, doeth quench that dis­ease, which we call S. Anthonis fire, applyed to the burning place. It doth extinguish or quench the heat, which is aboue nature, either in the breastes of women, or in the priuye members of boyes or men, called the colt euyll a­mong horses, but in men the aboundaunce of nature, with heate gathereth vpon a lumpe. Humlocke is a venemous herbe. And it doth quench and dry milke, in womens breastes. Plini wryting of the nature of this, sayeth it was the publike or common death, vsed among the Athenians. The seede and the leaues, haue power through coldnes, to kyll both inward, and outward partes of the body: the remedy is this, sayeth he before it come to the vitall partes, to drynke hoate wyne, but drunke with wine it is incurable. But the iuice of this, dropped into y ^e eye doeth quench the heate, and clense the syght, and healeth a dysease called Epiphora sayeth Anaxilaus. And thus I ende of this venemous herbe, which here in England, women vse to bucke their clothes with: and Weauers do make quylles vpon their stalkes, whych bee called Kexes.

What is the nature of the Artichoke, whose heddes bee sodden with Beefe, and vsed among vs for meate.

Scolimus. Cinara. Artichocke.THe Greekes call it Scolimus, it is also called Cinara, bicause this herbe delyghteth to grow in earth, myngled with Ashes: Some suppose it to be named Cinara, of a mayden who as the Poets dyd fayne, was transformed into a great Thistel, or an Artichoke: thys herbe is commonly knowen, and is of two kindes. That whych is full of pryckes, both in the fruicte and leaues is wylde, and of small effecte, and that is taken to bee Scolimus, Cinara the tame or Garden Artichocke, is good. The roote or leaues beyng sodden, or drunke with wine, doe heale the stinkyng and filth in the bladder or yarde of a mannes body: and make the vryne sweete, and clense melancholy or fleume, whych doth abounde. This saith Dioscorides and Ga­len, A nourishing herbe. in lib. ii. de alimentorum facultatibus. This fruicte doth nourish the body, and increaseth the seede of generation, both in Men & Women, if it bee well sod­den, in potage or Wyne, and is a prouydence of Nature, and healeth. Plinie doeth greatly commend this herbe, saying: if the roote be sodden in wine to the thirde parte, it is wholsome to be dronke, either after the bath, or af­ter Meate: and doeth cause vryne to be clensed aboundātly, through which the corruption of the raynes and Bladder, shalbee purged effectually. [Page 32] And thus I ende of the Artychocke, which is hotte and dry of nature, as appeareth by the taste in the Mouth, whych wyll burne, and is bytter in the mouth.

What is the nature of Trifolium, called the three leaued grasse? Ttiple grasse,

THis herbe beareth a sweete flower, and euery day his nature is, to leese vii. times his sauour or odour in a day, and receiueth it seuen tymes a­gayn in the same day. But being dried, it kepeth stil his sauour. Two kyndes of Triple grasse. Of this herb there be two kindes, the one of purple colour & sweete, and the other white flowred, and not so sweete. The roots be long & whyte: this herb groweth in euery medow in Iune and Iuly, & is hoat & dry in the thyrd degree. Dio­scorides sayeth, the seedes and leaues, sodden in water or wine, and so drunk do not onely helpe the diseases of the sides, but also the fallyng sickenesse, Triple grasse hath many vertues, and celleth a­gainst poyson the dropsy, or water crepyng betwene the skinne and the flesh, the strangurye, both in men and women. And also purgeth the humours menstruall: three dragmes of this, stamped with Oximel, and drunke in wine, doth helpe the bityng of all venemous beastes, and wyl not suffre any venime to come w ^t ­in the body. Euen so it helpeth both Tercians and Quarteins. Galen is of the same mynd, and Plinie doeth affirme the same: that it preuayleth agaynst poison and venime, drinking .xxv, grain waight, of the leafe, or the seede. And this sayth he, is a goodly Antidotarie, & also there is no Serpent dare come neare the tryple grasse: it is wholsome to make warme, and heale wounds, and cankers. And thus I end thereof.

What is the blessed goodnes of that worthy herbe, Valerian▪ called Ua­lerian, which some do cal the blessed herbe?

IT is named Phu in Greeke, and Nardus Siluestris in Latine, or Ualeriana & there be of it two kindes, the great and the litle, & this herb of some lear­ned men is called Triacle, bicause it wyl clense venime from the stomack & sydes, and clense the stopping of the matrix, and the vrine, as Plinie affir­meth, beyng drunke in wyne. Dioscorides sayeth, if you dry this herbe & drinke it, it wyl moue vryne, and helpe the dolour in the sides, and force Termes menstrual, and the best of this doth grow in Pontus. We haue good Ualeri­an also of good vertue, to helpe inwardly for the stone, and outwaedly for Wounds? and a goodly precyous Balme may bee made thereof, to heale wounds with al. The Spanyards do call it Herba benedicta, the blessed herb bicause it giueth sutch health, to purge termes, and help the stomacke. For woūdes. It is not mutch inferiour, to the Narde of Inde: but for the stone, it is better. It is hoat and dry in the second degree: and wyl grow in moist places, Ualerian ma­keth salues of great good­nesse. of a great height. They do greatly erre, which do take Calamus rootes, in the place of Ualerian: the roote hath many smal rootes, growing vnto it, lyke vnto the Beares foote rootes, or the rootes of Iuncus Odoratus: somwhat yellow & sweete are best, and must be gathered in Sommer, and dryed for pessaries, and clensyng of vrine: this herb is commonly knowen, for his singuler ver­tue, [Page] among Phisicions and Chirurgians, and also precious for women. And sodden in Wyne, with Fenell seede and Mastick, it is diuretike, and most best for them, whych haue either the collike or stone.

What is the nature of Columbine which beareth pleasant blew flowers, whereof some also beare white?

A Columbine is called Aquilegia and is commonly knowen, the flower of fiue heades, A columbine. like vnto Egles, meeting together in the neither part of the said flower, the vpper part spredeth out with winges, and feete answering vnto the same, therfore it is called the Egles herb: the Leaues be like vnto the greater Chelidon, but somwhat rounder and softer: For swelling in the throate. it florisheth in the moneth of May, and is somwhat hoat of nature, and doth dry vp Scabbes and Fistulaes if it be stampt and applyed vnto them in the maner of a plaster: it helpeth also to resolue, clense, and scoure Struma or the paynfull swellyng in the throate, called the Kinges Euill, receiued in Milke, sweete wyne or Oximell squilli­ticum either drunke or vsed in a Gargarisme warme: if the iuice thereof be mingled with wheat meale and made warme this way, it hath in Plaster great vertue to dry vp moyst humours in Biles or sores Many do affirme it to be Aegilops, wherein they do greatly erre, for that is a kynd of Oates or els Iuncus odoratus whereof is mention made before. But this Columbyne may be vsed in his place. It also clenseth young chyldren if it be put in theyr drynke from a filth growyng in theyr body through the aboundaunce of heate, A. h. medicē. called in the south the Redgome: but in the North it is called the Fel­lon, and thus I end of this herbe,

What is then the nature of Chelidon, commonly called Cellenden?

IT is called in Greeke Chelidonion Mega. that is the great Chelidon or if you wil, Chelydonion. y ^e Swallowes herbe, for a Swal­low in Greeke is called Chiledon: and it agreeth well to the reason that Plinie maketh concerning this herbe, which ob­serued fyrst the Nature of the same, saying, it doth grow when Swallowes do breede, and if through the heate of the swallowes donge, theyr young ones loose theyr syght, eft soones nature hath taught the old ones to gather thys herbe, through whose vertue the sayed younge byrdes receyue agayne theyr syght: this herbe is hoat and dry in the thyrd degree, Swallowes dunge wyll make blynd. example of Tobias. and is commonly knowen of euery reasonable Man or Woman. Dioscorides lib. ij. cap. clxxvj. sayth: if the iuice be strayned into a bra­sen Uessel, and myngled wyth Hony and so boyled into a thyckenesse vp­pon a soft fyre, thys hath vertue to claryfye the Eyes, and to lyghten the syght. The leaues, stalke and roote, s [...]amped and streyned in Sommer, and kept in a close Uessel, For sore eyen and dryed by lyttle and lyttle of it self in a sha­dow place, this iuice is good to make Trosses wythal, to heale the eyes. The roote thereof sodden in whyte Wyne, wyth Annysseedes, and so stray­ned, is good to be drunke against the yellow Iaundice & stopping of y ^e Gall [Page 33] And also it dryueth away all maner of Choler aduste out of the body: if it be sodden with vineger, Hony, whyte Rose leaues, and Swynes Grease, it clenseth the body from Scabbes, Biles, Soores, and Cankers. Many pre­cious Oyntments, waters, Salues, and balmes, be made of this herbe, as Galen, Plinie, and Ramundus Lullius, saith: it may rather bee called Celidonum y ^t is a gyft of heauen for the synguler gyft and goodnesse thereof, rather than Chelidonium, or the Swallowes herbe: and thus I ende of thys most precy­ous herbe called the great Chelydon. There is a nother lesser Herbe of thys name whych is also called Scrofularia minor, hauyng Leaues mutch like vn­to Azarabacka or Iuie, hauyng many small rootes whyte, in the forme of Peares, but very smal, and thys herbe hath yellow flowers, varnished with in lyke gylte, whych the common people call Kynge Cuppes. Theophrastus sayth in. lib. vij. cap. xiiij▪ thys herbe vanysheth away when Swallowes come in, or begynne to breede: Dioscorides lib. ii. cap. Clxxvij. Galen saieth that thys Herbe is hoatte and drye in the fourth degree. Dioscorides sayeth it wyll exulcerate or blister the skinne, by whych meanes it clenseth, scoureth, and casteth away foule scabbes, and leprouse matter from the skynne. The Iuice beyng tempered wyth Honye drawne vp into the nose, purgeth the head. After this maner vsed in a Gar­garisme, it doth clense the throte, and corruption of the stomacke and longes. This Scrofularia or small Cellenden is extreame hoatter in Asia than it is in Spayne, and more hotter of nature in Spayne, than here in England. Scrofularia In Scotland I haue seene the people eate of this small roote parboyled wyth other colde sallet herbes, wyth cleane Oyle, Sugar and Uynegar: for euery herbe flower and roote must be obserued according to the nature of the regi­on aswel as of their owne tēperament. And thus I end of these two herbes

What say you then of an herbe called Pimpernell?

IT is called Pimpynella or Pampinula, whereof be two kyndes, the greater and the smaller, Pimpinella. is good aga­inst the Pesti­lence. These Herbes bee commonly knowen with long rootes, cornered stalkes, agged leaues, white flowers and small seede, and doeth grow in euery place, as Feldes, Woodes, Pastures and Meddowes, and it is hoate and dry in the second degre nerehand to the third: the iuice▪ of this herbe is drunke a­gainst the bityng of Serpents. If it be drunk in wine, it clenseth the raines and bladder. Nothyng is better agaynst the Strangury, both in men and Women. The dystilled Water of thys Herbe doeth drye vp moyste humoures in the eye, which we call blered watryng eyes: it clenseth spottes from the face: and drunke with Mithrydatum, there is nothyng better against the Pestilence, and thus I end of thys herbe.

What say you then of an herbe called Sheperdes purse.

THis herbe is called Pera pastoris, Sheperdes purse. to stop bloud. because it is like a bagge which sheperds do vse to weare. The seede is not vnlike vnto a litle hart of a small bird. [Page] The leaues be like vnto Rocket, it is cold of nature, and stoppeth bloud or flixe, being drunk with small Red wine or Plaintain water A plaster made of this herbe with vineger and fresh swines grease, doth quench all inflama­cions, or heate of the body, as the Shingels. &c. The iuice alone doth heale a new wound, and stoppe the bloud. Nothyng is better to restrayne the im­moderate flixe menstruall, than to make a fomentum, and moist bath of thys herbe, and to syt ouer it close, and to drynke of the same clarifyed in Redde wyne. Many great learned men do affyrme, that the onely holdyng of thys herbe in a mans hand, doth stoppe the bloud flowing at the nose, or any o­ther part of the body. Many marueiles might be declared of the vertue of this herbe, but to the ignoraunt and incredible, it is but vaine to wryte any farther, and thus I ende of Shepards Purse, or bloud stopping herbe.

What is the nature of Lyons foote, called Pes Leonis ▪

Lions foote. Pes Leonis.It is in forme lyke vnto a Lions foote, with broade iagged leaues, with viii. indented leaues together in one, smal flowers, yelow in couler, the stalke .vi. handfull longe, with a roote finger bignes, in colour somwhat red, in nature this herbe is dry in the second degree: the iuice thereof doth ioyne new wounds together, and healeth them quickly, the decoction ther­of is holsome to wash all manner of woundes new and olde, To heale woundes and sores. with warme linnen clothes, washed in the same: and the Decoction healeth womens sore breastes: if this be drunke in wine, it healeth wounds inwardly, in the breast belly, and guttes: and draweth vp the guttes in younge chyldren, that are slypped downe from the body, through occasion of weakenes, coldenesse, or the flixe. This is an excellent herbe for Chirurgens, to heale woundes wyth all, and thus I end of Lyons foote.

What haue you els to say of the nature of an herbe called Knotgrasse, or cumber field?

Knotgrasse, Kneeherbe, or Poligonon.IT is called in Greeke Polygonon, because it hath so many knottes, lyke knees or ioynctes, there is an herbe that stoppeth bloud better than thys doth, and it beareth an infinyte number of small seedes. The leaues be lyke vnto Rue, somewhat longer, and by euery lease the seede doth growe, and beareth a small white flower. This herbe is taken to be a weede of no esty­mation, and is cold and dry in the second degree, and in the begynning of the thyrd. Dioscorides sayeth, it hath vertue to restrayne and coole, if the iuice be drunk, either of them which spitte bloud, pysse bloud, or els haue y ^e bloud­dy flixe. Notwythstandyng, it doth clense the raynes, and preuent or put a­way the fit of a feauer, if it be drunk one houre before the accesse of the same. It stoppeth the flixe menstruall, either in a vomit or a bath, or to drinke the same with wyne. It doth the lyke agaynst the distyllyng of the whytes of women. Dropped into the eare, it fortyfyeth the hearyng of them which bee dull or stopped. This herbe stamped with Hony, doth heale soores, infectyng [...]o corrupting the priuie or secret members: the leaues thereof do quench the [Page 34] burnyng Shingles, hoate inflamacions, and ioyne heale and clense newe woundes. There is no better plaster than this agaynst the heate of the sto­macke, and thys affyrmeth Galen and Plinie, thys mutch of this herbe.

What is the nature or vertue of Stoechados.

THis is a noble Herbe, and of great vertue, leaued lyke vnto Tyme, Stoechadus or Stoechas. w ^t knops in the toppe lyke Hoppes, wherevppon grow purple Flowers, sweete of sauour, bytter of taste, the roote is small and hard, it beareth flowers in Iune, and it is of a restraining temperament, somewhat cooling: the decoction thereof helpeth the lunges euen as Hysop doth, and is put in many medicines of great vertue: it doth extenuate or cleanse the inwarde partes of the body, the Lyuer, the Splene, the Reignes, Guttes, Stichados good for the Splene. &c. and priuye members: prouoketh termes menstruall, and helpeth all the dyseases of the stomacke, and thus affirmeth Dioscorides, Galen, and Plinie: this Herbe gro­weth in Arabia, and is brought from Alexandria, Dioscor. lib. 3. Cap. xxvi. Galen lib. 8. sim. medica. euen so there is great pleney growyng vpon the Mount Gargane in Italy. The Arabians do call it Astochodos, the Italians call it Stoechade: and thus I ende of thys worthy straunge Herbe, which groweth not commonly in Englād, but the Potica­ries haue it.

What is the nature of Verbascum.

THis herbe is of diuers kyndes. The one is called Mullen, whych is a long herbe like a waxe taper, Verbascum. bearing yellow flowers in y ^e toppe with small seades, whych is called the whyte male Verbascum: but the white female is in the same forme, and beareth white flowers. Then there is a kynd of blacke Verbascum with great rootes, sondry braunches, and yel­low flowers, and these herbes be called Lunge worte, among the common people. The thyrde kinde is called Pagles, or Cowslips. Cowslippes or Pagles. These herbes are cō ­monly known, and be of a drying nature, & do greatly restrain or stop y ^e bel­ly, in the tyme of a blouddy flyxe, the decoction of thē beyng drunke warme. The water of them quencheth the inflamacion or burning of the eyes. This herbe stamped with clarifyed Hony in a Leaden morter, puttyng thereunto wyne and Uineger, doth make a medicine to heale Ulcers withall. Thys same medicine is good against the stynging of an Adder, Snake or Waspe. The iuice of theyr leaues tempered with washed Oyle of Lynseede, doeth heale scalding or burning of the skinne or flesh. The pith which is in y ^e roote, is good to heale Fistulaes. And al the flowers sodden in vineger, doe heale the Kyngs Euil, applied to the place, or in gargarisme: y ^e roote, seede, or leafe, sodden in Wyne, is good, not onely to be drunke agaynst all dyseases of the lunges, breastes, sydes, and raynes, but also casteth out of the flesh any thyng therein fyxed, as Nayle, Thorne, or prycke. Of this herbe is there a synguler medicine made for beastes, Horse, Cow, or swyne, after this maner. Stampe thys Herbe, puttyng therein Fenicreeke and Madder wyth warme Ale, conuey it into the throte of the sycke Beast, wyth a Horne or tonnell made for the same purpose, and thys wyll heale and clense theyr Lunges. For lacke of thys, and many sutch good lyke medicynes, do many Beastes dye. [Page] Therefore, good Marcellus, take here none occasion to dispyse this my rege­ment for men, although I here shew a litle medicine for beastes, for we with­out them should liue very beastly. They be the giftes of God, his creatures and our seruaunts: and thus I do ende of this herbe called Verbascum, Mul­len, or Cowslip. Primerose also is of the same kynde.

What is the nature of Tormentill:

THis herbe is calsed Ceptaphillō, Tormentill, or of some Bistorta: this hath leaues like fyue fyngers, but that it hath .vii. leaues in nomber iagged or tothed lyke a Sawe, Tormentill doth grow & di [...]minish with the vine. growyng about the stalke wyth yellow gol­den flowers. wyth a greate roote. Plinie saith lib. xv. cap. ix that this herbe doth begyn to grow, and vanish when the Uyne doth grow and wyther: thys herbe also groweth vpon hilles, and in Heath ground, and in Woddes. The temperament or complexion of thys herbe is colde and dry in the thyrd de­gree, say the late writers, but others affyrme not the same, but rather that it should be hot in the thyrd degree, 1. Fuchsius in hist [...] strip. and that appeareth by hys faculty, it wan­teth coldnes in the thyrd degree, but rather is of the nature of Quin (que) folium, and the roote is dry in the thyrd degree, and hot. Paulus Aegenita saith, if this herbe be stamped with Oyle, it wyl heale the sorenes of the feete or feabbes, wythin thre dayes, Against the Pestilence The new wryters say, it wyll close & heale new woūds, and cleanse the eyes. The pouder of the roote, wyth the iuice of Planteine, is drunke against the stopping or scaldyng of vryne, it is good against poisō. pestylence, and bloudy flixe, Kynges euyll, fylth in the mouth, and sorenes or swelling of the stomacke or Spleane, Liuer and Belly, and stoppeth bloud, if it be dronke in the decoction, the Water, or pouder. Sheepe which feede therevpon shall not dye on the rotte and that I haue seene prooued in sun­dry places in Norfolk, Tormentyll kepeth Shepe from the rot. and in a place of Suffolke, called Blaxall, vpon a lytle sheepes walke, in the same Towne, whereas Sheepe lyued many Yeares wythout rottyng, through the vertue of thys herbe: and Shepardes haue obserued the same. And thus I ende of Tormentyll.

What is the vertue of Rocket Gentle?

Eruca or Rocket. Dioscor lib. 2. Cap. xxiiij. Galen lib. 2 de aliment. THis herbe is called Eruca for it doth [...]rode and burne with heate, an byteth the tongue, it also smelleth lyke a Foxe, the seede gro­weth in a cod lyke ro Rapes with a whyte roote, yellow flower, and iagged leaues, and is very hoat of nature, and increaseth seede of generation, And the people of Spayne, sayeth Dioscori­des, dyd vse this Rocket seede in the place of Mustarde: it hath vertue to pro­uoke plenty of vryne. Galen saith, eaten alone, it hurteth the head: therefore his councell is to eate it with Lettice, to rebate the heate. The rootes soddē in water, wil draw forth a broken bone, The seede is good against the stinge of Serpents, and poyson of Spiders made in plaster: and drunke, it hath vertue to expulse wormes out of the belly, saith Plinie.

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What is Serpentaria?

OF this herbe, there be two kyndes, the male is called Bistorta, Bistorta hath a crumpled roote, lying wrinkled like a serpent, but y ^e female roote is black, with out, and red within, and a great knot in the ende. y ^e female is named Colūbrina, the leaues be fashioned mutch lyke Beetes, a small stalke wyth a bushe in the top, and groweth in darke places, and is colde, restrayning and drying in the thirde degree. The roote hereof doth heale and glewe woundes toge­ther in a plaster, & doth chiefly stop the blouddy flixe: the pouder or decocti­on restrayneth vomits: and it stablisheth the teeth, the decoction warme holden in the mouth. It hath the same vertue which Britanica hath in stop­ping or restrayning: it doth retayne the newe conceyued seede wythout hurt in the Matrix of the Mother, and thus I end of Serpentary.

Giloflowers are sweete and pleasaunt, but are they good for any medicine?

YEa forsooth, they are no lesse profitable, than pleasaunt, and great­ly commended among the olde Wryters: Gillofloures. Matthiol. in Diosco. lib. 2 Cap. 152. for Dioscorides reporteth of them, that they do not only preserue y ^e bodies of men from corrupt Ayres, but also keepe the mynde and spyrituall partes, from terri­ble and fearefull dreames: through their heauenly sauour, and most sweete pleasaunt odour, they do fortifie the brayne: there is no Apothicary can by any naturall Arte, make any confection so pleasaunt as this is, whych na­ture hath wrought most wonderous in pleasing of the senses, both of see­ing and smelling. If Gilloflowers be stamped, Gilloflouers wyll heale woundes. they heale newe woundes of y ^e head, and drawe forth broken bones. The decoction of them is good to washe the head withall. The Oyle of Gillofloures doth heale the byting of a mad dog, and woundes of the sinewes, and cold goutes. If this flower be sodden in whyte Wyne, it driueth away the terrour of a Tertian, and the horrour of a Quarten, being drunke warme before the fit: and by y ^e meanes also be Wormes killed in the belly. This herbe of nature is hoat and dry, & of thys there be sundry kyndes, some small and some great, and of sundry collours, as whyte, red, carnation. &c. And is called Garyophyllum, or a do­mestical flower, and in the olde tyme it was vsed to be put in the Gardens among the Romayne virgines. The roote is good agaynst the Pestilence and Falling sicknesse, and thus I end of Gilloflouers.

What is the naturall vertue of Houslyke?

IT is called Houslike, Sedum. Houslike. and Seengreene in the South partes of England, but in the North it is called Full, in Latten it is called Sedum or Semper viuum, that is euermore lyuing, and ne­uer dying: therefore the old Wryters do call it Iouis barba, Iu­piters Bearde, and holde an Opynion supersticiously that in what house so euer it groweth, no Lyghtning or Tempest [Page] can take place to doe any harme there. The leaues be lyke vnto Tongues, this herbe is commonly knowen, and thereof be three kyndes: the greate­the meane, and the lesse, and of temperament and complexion, they be some­what drying, and vehemently cold, I meane the two fyrst kyndes, But the thyrde, whych is the least, called Stonecrope, is hoate in the thyrd degree, and will burne the tongue, if it bee bitten vpon, Dioscorides calleth it Telethi­on. Diosco. lib. 4 Cap. lxxxvii. The great Houslike doeth quench hoate Apostimacions, Biles, paynfull sores, Fellons, Rednes in the eyes, Scaldyngs and burnyngs, and the rich­mannes euyll, Many goodly medicines made of hous­like. called the Goute: eyther stamped by it selfe, or els myngled with Barly meale, oyle of Roses and Uinegar: and this way it doth helpe the head, and reconcile sleepe. The iuice of this herbe drunke in wyne, pre­uayleth agayn the byting of venemous beastes, bloudy flixes, and womēs termes flowyng immoderatly, and kylleth wormes in the Belly: and thus affirmeth the said Dioscorides, Galen, and Plinie. But the thyrde kynde, called Telethion, hath vertue to make hoate, to blister the skinne: and stamped with Hogges grease, it doeth heale the kynges euil, or paynes in the throte, if it be warme anoynted therewith oftentymes. And thus I do end of this Hous­like, whych is commonly knowen, growing vpon walles, or house toppes: and of the other .ii. kyndes, growyng vpon ruines, rockes of the sea side, or broken walles.

I Pray you, bee not Nettelles a noysome kynd of weedes? Me thinke they should be none other: as appeareth by their spyghtfull stinking, for they be fearefull, both to Man, Woman, and Chylde, & sondrye kyndes of beasts.

A Nettel is called Vrtica ab vrendo, of burning, blistering, or stingyng of the skinne. There be two kindes of Nettel­les, Vrtica the▪ Nettle. the common Nettell, and the red Nettel. There is also the thyrde, though not commonly knowen in these parties, called Vrtica Romana, the Romaine Nettel, of the which, there groweth plenty about the walles of Yar­mouth. This Nettel beareth great beries vpon it, and the other Nettles but sedes: and of nature they be al ve­ry hoat and dry. Dioscorides sayeth the vertue of them, is to heale the bitynge of a madde Dogge, stamped wyth Salt, and so applyed to the wound. It doeth the lyke vnto Cankers and to cold swellyng Apostumacions: y ^e iuice put into the nose▪ Netele sedes will serue in the place of Pepper. stoppeth bleedyng. The iuice tempered with clarifyed Ho­ny, clenseth the lunges, stomacke, and sides: drunke wyth Ptisant, it doeth clense the belly, and matrix of a Woman. The iuice also tempered wyth Mirrhe, wyll moue termes menstruall, if it bee drunke warme. The seede thereof finely beaten in pouder, and drunke in wine or broth, doth augmente and increase the seede of Generation. The seede of redde Nettels, being ga­thered betwene the sainct Marye dayes, may serue poore Men in steede of Peper, and hath the very taste of Peper, and is good to season Pyes, or what you wyll therewith. And of vertue is accompted, of no lesse Ua­lue than Peper: the Leaues of Nettelles sodden wyth Oysters, cleanse the Raynes of the Backe, scoure the Bladder, and prouoke Uryne. [Page 36] And they are good agaynst obstructions, and stoppyng of the Liuer, vppon colde causes, and kyll UUormes: the syrupe thereof is most excellent to bee drunke of women, in theyr paynfull trauayle of chyldren, and causeth spedy delyueraunce. And thus I ende, of the nature of Nettelles.

What is the nature of Paeonia?

THys is an herbe of an excellent vertue, Paeonia is cal­led the chast herbe. and is called y ^e chast herbe: y ^e coddes therof are full of graynes, in forme to the Pomgarnet. There bee twoo of them in kinde, the male and female. It is sayd that the noble Clarke Bias was the first inuenter of this herbe: this is commonly knowen amongest vs here in England. The flowers are like vn­to a Rose. The seede doth grow in a cod, which seedes be of colour red and blacke, and it florisheth in May: A good medy­cine for the fallyng sickenes. and the yel­low Iaun­dice, made of Pionie. the roote is somewhat byndyng of nature, neyther bitter nor sweete, but betweene both. And is of a drying heate, in the second degree, and warming in vertue. Galen declareth y ^t a chyld did not fal, as long as he had this roote hanging about his necke, But we haue oftentimes proued it contrary: but for the fallyng sickenes the pouder thereof tempered with Mugwort water, and giuen vnto y ^e sicke pacyent: preuayleth greatly agayn the fallyng euyll. The iuice of this herbe or pouder, is good to be drunke agaynst the stoppyng of the gaule, lyuer, or raynes: if it be sodden with olde redde wyne, and drunken, it stoppeth the bloudy flixe. The redde graynes, doe stoppe the redde menstruall humoure: the blacke graynes, sodden in redde wyne, doe fortifye and strengthen the matrix in them in whome the fluxe of bloud doth abound. The roote sodden in wyne and drunke, purgeth the belly, putteth away the collike, maketh cleane the guttes, defendeth against frensies and passions of the brain, stran­gury, and bityng of Serpentes. But there must no more be taken in medy­cine at one tyme, but fower drames: and what is better than Pionie a­gaynst the yellow Iaundice, beyng drunke in whyte wine, with the pouder of Saffron? Thys and many moe vertues hath this worthy herbe, and is beloued of the Spaniardes, and of theim it is called Rosa De monthe. And thus I conclude of this vertuous Pionie, that the redde is better than the blacke.

What is the nature of a straunge herbe, called Asparagus?

THis is an herbe of great vertue, and ful of rootes, long stalkes & ful of braunches. Asparagus hath many goodly ver­tues, specially to increase seede. The braūches that springe first from y ^e roote be preuented of them, which grow after them. This is a garden herbe: but of his owne nature it groweth in rockes, chiefly in I­taly. Galen sayeth, that this herbe of nature is marueilous: for it is sometyme coolyng, and sometyme warmyng or heatyng. And also clen­seth and scoureth: if the tender braunches of this herbe, be sodden in wyne & drunken, they doe not onelye molifye the Bellye, but clense the raynes. [Page] Nothyng is better to open the gall and clense the yellow Iaundice, than this herbe is: there is great vertue in the roote, to bee made in pouder, or sodden in medicine, for the same purpose. The beries be of a singular vertue agaynst the diseases of the teeth: the water of this herbe, wyll clarifye the eyes: the syrupe doeth increase seede of generation, the decoction thereof in Uynegar, preuayleth agaynst the whyte leprosie. There is no herbe soner conuerted into good bloud thā Asparagus, notwithstandyng the beries ther­of must be boyled and eaten with sweete Oile, Uinegar, and sugar: and then it preuayleth against barrennes of women. Plinie doth commend this herbe, the .xx. booke, the .x Chapter, that it preuayleth agaynst the paines of y ^e bone called spina, and all these foresaied diseases. Auicen sayeth in his last Fen. lib. iiij. that this herbe maketh a pleasaunt odour in meate, and bringeth sweetenes to the whole body, To make the vrine sweete. clenseth stinkyng vryne, and causeth the bladder and all the vesselles to bee sweete. Galen doeth not a lyttle commend it, Lib. vij. de A­limen facultatibus. And Dioscorides lib. ij. Cap cxviij. doth first begin the praise. and laude of this herbe, wyth all his vertues. And thus I ende of Asparagus.

THys same is an herbe, of incomparable vertues, and doeth excell all other, for his synguler goodnesse to mankynde: I truste to remember it therefore. Now I shall desyre you, to shew me the nature of y ^e great Burre, which is more commonly knowen, than commended: notwythstan­dyng, I would bee glad to learne the vertue, for euery manne doth know it, to bee an herbe of great anoiaunce in pastures, and an vnpleasaunt atire, for the maines and tayles of horse.

Bardana the great Burre THys greate Burre is called Personata, lappa maior, or Bardana, and is commonly knowen, whose Burres wyll cleaue to the apparaile of menne: the leaues bee verye broad, the roote greate, wythin white, wythout blacke and doeth grow com­monly in many places, and is drye. and byndyng of nature. Dioscorides sayeth lib. iiij. if one dragme weight of this be drunk wyth the curnelles of the Pyneaple, it doeth helpe the cough, and spyttyng of bloud, and fylthynesse in the stomacke, and is good agaynst the contrac­tion of the sinewes, Rotten sores helped. and specially of the Arteires. If the leaues bee stamped, and applyed plasterwayes, they do heale old rotten sores, and stinkyng fyl­thy vlcers: euen so wyll the iuice of this herbe doe, for Galen affirmeth the same. The decoction of the roote thereof, is good to washe woundes with­all: the roote stamped wyth Salte, doth heale the byting of a mad Dogge, applyed to the wound. The iuice tempered wyth Hony, and so drunke, pro­uoketh vryne: and taketh away the paynes of the bladder. The seede beaten in pouder, Scalding and burnynge help [...]. and drunke in wyne, by the space of fourty dayes, wyl take away the paynes of the huccle bones, called Sciatica. The leaues stamped with the whyte of an Egge, also heale Burnyng or Scaldyng, thus sayeth Apuleius. The roote preuayleth agaynst the bytynge of Serpents, eyther inwardly, [Page 37] or outwardly: the same roote sodden in Wyne, doth cleaue deliuer a man from the horrour of the feuer quarten, if he drinke thereof, one hour before the comming of the fit. And tempered with Swynes grease it maketh a goodly Playster, agaynst the swelling of the Throate, called Angina, and thus affirmeth Columella. And here I do end of Burres.

What is the naturall vertue of an herbe, called Gramen, or Stichworte?

THis Gramen is called Sperewort, Stitchwort, or Stitch grasse: It groweth in dark places, Gramen is Stitchworte. and an infynite num­ber of stalkes grow from one roote: the roote creepeth of a great lēgth within the groūd, but not deepe. The flow­ers be white, growing vpon the top of the braunches, w ^t a prety round seede in the middes. This herbe is cōmonly known, cattell delite to eate thereof in pastures: they do greatly erre, which take this herbe for Eufragium. It florisheth in Aprill, most sweete, white, & pleasaunt. This herbe is cold and dry, with a little bitter­nesse, hauing vertue to open: Dioscorides doth say, the roote hath vertue to close a newe wounde together. This herbe sodden in Wyne, doth breake the stone: it is good agaynst y ^e hardnes of the splene, stopping of the lyuer, Stitchworte will heale the stone, & heal [...] woundes. and galle. It clenseth the raynes, scoureth the bladder, and conduites of Uryne: Galen doth call this herbe Pernasus, for there groweth great plenty thereof vpon a Mountayne in Greece so named: which had two high toppes, Pernasus. herbe. vn­der whom did dwell the .ix. Muses, as Poets fayne. Plinie sayth, the seede doth vehemently purge the vryne, and stoppeth vomites, with many other goodly vertues. And thus I end of Stitchwort.

What is the nature of Sauine, that bitter bushe?

THis venemous hearbe, is commonly knowne, Sauine. A practice of Harlottes wrought [...] Sauine. from whom diuers Diuelishe drabbes, haue gathered venim, to destroy their bastardly children, to couer their filthy whoredome withal. And yet ofttimes it happeneth, that the mother is slayne, and the childe is deliuered, and by Gods prouidence, is helped and saued. Yet this herbe rightly vsed, is of a singuler vertue, & may rather be numbred among trees, than herbes, for no frost can kill it. It groweth very thicke, like vnto a bushe, the leaues do neuer wither nor dry, it groweth in gardens, the beries are gathered in Haruest, and it is hoat and dry in the thride degree. Dioscorides sayth, the fyrst booke .88. Chapi. that there be .ij. kindes of Sauin: Sauine of . [...]. kyndes. one hath leaues lyke vnto the Cipers tree, th'other hath leaues lyke vnto the Tamarice tree: They haue vertue being stamped, for to heale all painefull sores, Byles, and pusshes, applied vnto them. This herbe is a good perfume agaynst the mo­ther, to burne when Women do sownde, receyuing the smoake in at y ^e nose-Tempered with Hony, it breaketh a Pestilent sore, made in plaster wayes: Drunke in Wine, it purgeth them that pisse bloud. And by subfumigation, it doth drawe downe the dead chylde from the Matrix of the Mother. It [Page] is mingled in hoat oyntmentes, against coldnesse of the ioyntes & sinewes. and is good against the Palsie. Plinie doth greatly commend this, in his .42. boke. A new prac­tice for y ^e pox made of Sa­uin [...]. Chap. xi. It is good to put Sinamon to this herb, beyng vsed in medicine .ii. times the weight: It helpeth also the Kynges euill, or paynes in the throte▪ made in the maner of plaster. The fume of this herb doth preuaile against the French pockes: and thus I do conclude of thys Herbe, called Sauin, which the Arabians call Abell.

DaisiesWhat is the nature of Daisies, double or single, I pray you tell me?

Plinie. lib 21. Capi. viii. NEither did Dioscorides, nor Galen write of these herbes, nor any of the auncient Greekes: but Plinie saith, that one Bellius was inuenter of this herb, called Bellis. And this herb hath .l. little braunches, or white beames growing round about the yellow flower, which is in the myddes▪ and some do call it herba Paralysis. What shall I say any farder I neede no more descripcion thereof, bicause this herbe is so commonly knowen & gro­weth in euery field and pasture. Notwithstandyng, the double Daisy doth grow in gardens: and these great Daisies do florish in May, and of nature be hoat and dry, as we may gather of Plinie, who saith this herb doth heale swellings of the throte, paines in the necke: therfore it must needes be hoat and dry, for no cold thing can help the swelling in the throte, This Iuice is good for wounded men to drynke, for it doth resolue hard and cold thynges, Goute, and Sciatica, and is very good against the resolucion of the members, which in Greeke is called Paralysis, which we call the Palsie. With thys herbe Bellis, Paralysis. and other good medicines, I Bullein did recouer one Bellises, not onely from a spice of the Palsie, but also frō the quarten▪ And afterward the same Bellises, Bellis. Bellises. Bullein. more vnnaturall than a viper, sought dyuers wayes to haue murthered me, taking part against me, with my mortall enemyes, ac­companied with ruffins, for that bloudy purpose, and deadly feede. Sutch was his shamelesse ingratefull nature, Prouerb. 10 Prouerb. 17 Euyll wyl stirreth vp strife, and a se­dicious persone, seeketh mischief. This man being worshipfully born, doth bare the name and tytle of a Gentleman, rather than any condicions of one in deede. R. Bellises of Iarowe in the Bis­shopricke. And in complexion is more effeminate, than a feble pale woman: a dweller in the place, whereas holy Bede was borne, but yet possessing none of hys Uertues. And thus of Bellis the herb, I make an end: and of Bel­lises, which would haue ended me.

What is the nature of Sene, my gentle friend Hilarius, I pray you tell me

THere be two kyndes of it: the one is called Sene, which beareth Cods like Brome. Sene of Alexandria The other is a lesser kynde, bearyng his seede in a grosse Codde. The Codde is mutch lyke an Almond growyng on the tree, but as thynne as Perchemente. The Flowers bee lyke the Flowers of Brome, very yellowe. Thys herbe groweth in Gardens, in the Moneth of Maye and Iune, and of nature is hoate, in the fyrst begynnyng of the second degree, & dry in the begynning of the fyrst degree. A dragme of y ^e [Page 38] codde, sayth Actuarius, may be drunke without any hurte: for it hath vertue to purge, both fleume and choler. The leaues and coddes be wholsome, to be sodden in the broth of an Henne, against old paynes in the head, scabbes, fallyng sicknes, and the itche. The iuice in infusion or steeped, is better to bee drunken, than the pouder, for all obstructions in the body: and these bee the wordes, of that great learned man. Doctor Actuarius. This is vsed agaynst the aboundaunce of melancholy: and doth open the instruments of the sen­ses, and the parts both Animall, vitall, and Neutrimentall. There is of this gro­wing in Fraunce, but y ^e best cōmeth frō Alexandria in Egypt, or els from Siria, whych may be giuen to women with Chyld, and young Chyldren, without any hurte, chyefly in infusyon, it may bee also mingled with Cassia or Manna: or els it may bee beaten into fyne pouder, and so tempered with Syrupe of Roses solityue, and so drunke: and thys way it is a gentle leni­tiue purgation. But the deluting, steepyng, or putting these leaues in wine, cold whaie, or distylled water, with a piece of Suger, and some Anisseedes, standyng all the night in a close potte, and in the morning streyne it, I assure you, thys is more better to purge wythall than if it were in decoction, or soddē in broth. Note also, when you do make a decoction with sondry herbs, let all your other herbes be sodden softe, before you put in your Sene, for it is so thinne of substaunce, that els it wyl go away in a smoke.

Here wyl I shew you a most excellent decoction, Sir Richard Alye, his le­nitiue, Mat­thiolus vseth the same in Dioscoridem Lib. 3. cap. 70. wherewith I purged sir Richard Alie, a knyght of a synguler connyng: whych knyght hath bene a profytable instrument to our common Wealth, in worthy fortifications and buildyngs, as of the stronge, and famous towne of Barwick, whose walles are inuincible, as presently appereth. Besyde many of his other wor­thy workes. Thys man beyng sycke, in whome diuers and sondry purgaci­ons and Electuaries tooke smal effect, thys onely dyd hym mutch pleasure: the best Sene leaues, dragmes .vi, whyte Ginger dragme one, the flowers of Buglosse, dragmes two, mingled together, in a new cleane stone Potte, with a narrow mouth, and one pynte of whaie of Goates mylke: this pot was closely couered in the mouth, that no ayre should go forth of y ^e mouth. Then it was set in a vessell, wyth hoat water, and so did seeth, by the space of two houres, and then was taken from the fyre, and set in a close place til it was cold, and the vapour cleane delayed. Then it was strained, and giuē hym to drynke, in the mornyng folowyng, whych dyd purge choler aduste and melancholy, whych is his complexion. Thys whaye being drunke, pre­uayleth agaynst all passions of the brayne, Sene helpeth the head with al the senses▪ from the head downe to the bot­tome of the Blader. And helpeth al the senses, both of hearyng, seeyng, and smellyng, and wyll strengthen all the Body: and it doeth exonerate, and vnburden the same of euery humour that doth abound, as cholour, fleume, and melancholy. And thys affyrmeth Mesue: Actuarius, Ruellius, and Matthiolus vppon Dioscorides. lib. 3. cap. lxx.

What is the vertue of Goose foote, which herbe is lyke [Page] Geese feete, Pes anserinus. wyth iadged leaues?

Gosefoote an euill herbe.IT is called Pes anserinus, leaued like Night shade, but more iagged in the sayd leaues, bearing small little red flowers, with great plenty of seede, lyke vnto Arage: it commonly groweth in eche place whereas plenty of dunge is cast, and is cold in the seconde degree, and it is venomous as Sola­num is, and killeth Swyne, if they do eate of it: it maketh men to be mad, or die sleeping, therefore beware of it.

What is Fellon weede good for, whych is named Saynct Iames weede?

THe olde Wryters made small mention thereof, it hath leaues lyke Roc­ket, S Iames wort called Fellon weede many rootes, flowers like Chamomill, growing by water sides, and in sandy places, by path sides: it is hoat & dry of nature, this will heale Furunculi, called Fellons and other sores and woundes, and Fistulaes: and is holsome to make salues wythall to dry, ripe, and heale, and will not suffer any venomous scabbe, or sore to spreade any further, therefore it should bee good, both for Serpigo, the Canker, and Ringwormes. &c.

What wyll Spatula Foetida doe?

IT groweth by hedges, the Berries grow in coddes, which cods openeth in three partes like the Paeoni, Spatula wyl kyll Lyse. the leaues be long flagges, this herbe is ve­hemently hoat, and hath vertue to kill Lyse, as Staphisagria hath, and to heale scabbes. &c.

What can Orpin do?

THys Orpin will long hange in an house, after it be cut, and grow stil geeene, Telephus. Crassula, or Orpin. we call it Orpin. Telephus was a kyng of the Goathes, and Mysia, son to Hercules, which warred vpon the Greekes before christes byrth. Anno. 1212. This man slew a famous capta [...]ne of the Greekes, na­med Thesandius, & his souldiers vanquished Aiax, and Achilles, but yet Achil­les wounded him with a Darte, whych wound was healed by this Crassula which hee named Thelephium, and vntill thys day, it is so called: whereof there be two kyndes, the great wyth whyte flowers, and the small wyth yellow, Orpin heleth the morphew▪ but these flowers be variable, and wil change their couller, the leafe is like Purssen, but grosser, and this doth grow in moyst places, vnder the droping of houses in Gardens, and flourisheth in Iuly, and August, and is dry in the seconde degree, and in the beginning of the thirde, and is very hoate. The Iuyce therefore is good to anoynt the place of the Mor­phewe euery hower, so that it bee myngled with stronge whyte Uine­gar: But Galen affyrmeth that it dooeth not onelye cleanse the faynte Morphewe, To clense the Morphew. whych he calleth Alphos, but it also cleanseth a foule corrupt [Page 39] stinkyng vlcer, scoureth and dryeth the same. Plinie sayeth, this iuice wyll heale a fylthy Leprous sore of diuers colours to be anoynted therewith, e­uery hower, day and night .iii. times in one moneth, and as you do anoynte the same to put vpō the same sore Barly meale. It maketh a plaster for Her­nia, and healeth wounds, both old and new, and Fistulaes. And thus I doe end of Orpin, or herb Telephion.

What is the goodnesse of Paunsis, or three faces in one hodde? Some call it Hartesease.

THis herbe is called herba Trinitatis: Herba Trini­tatis of iii. colours so na­med. but I read in an old Monkish written Herball, wherein the aucthour writeth, that this herb did signify the holy Trinitie: and therefore was called the Herbe of the trinity, and thus he made his allegorie. This flower is but one in which said he, are three sondry colours, & yet but one sweete sauour. So God is three distinct persones, in one vndiuided Trinity. An allegory. of [...] herbe. United together in one eternall glory, and diuine Maiesty. &c. Wel, although the three distinct persones be euen so, whose glory is indiffinable: yet this glory may not bee comprehended of mortall men, nor Angels. The maiesty thereof may not with reuerence, be compared or lykened, by any alligory, to any base, vayne venerous flower: but may rather be called, thre faces in a Monkes hodde: Iohn i. That thys day groweth in the Garden, and to morow withereth as duste. Mutch more the offence and daunger is, for any christian man, to graue or paynt any Image, callyng it the signe or Image of the Trinity: whych can not bee done, of any liuyng creature, for God forbad the same. God hath no man seene, but onely his sonne Chryst, whych is God of his substance, and of the same deitye. Neither any mortall man may see him, Exodus. 20. before he be clensed by death, & transformed into an other life, sayth the holye scripture: thus all glory be to the holy Trinitye. i. Iohn. 4. And now I wyll shew the right diffinicion of this herbe, fitte and apt for the same vaine flower. It is called herba Trinita­tis, that is, because it hath three colours: yet the old Pagan writers, did call it Iupiters herbe, because of the beauty of colours: it is like a Uiolette in shape and sauour, and of temperament, is mutch lyke Comphorie▪ hoat and dry, and is good to be drunke, both agaynst the fallyng euyll in chyldren, and also agaynst all maner of rotten fleume, and filth in the stomacke, sydes, and lunges. Thus it doth inwardly help, in syrupe, decoctiō, or y ^e water inward­ly drunk: no lesse it helpeth all wounded men, Women, and Children, and al them whych haue broken bones. Outwardly, it clenseth from the skinne, all itche, skabbes, shyngles, vlcers, and ringwormes: & healeth or closeth greene wounds together, without the daunger of any apostumacion, if it be made in plaster, or els the iuice preserued with oyle. For herbes beynge stamped, strayned, and clensed vppon the Fyre, and made colde, and kepte in a cleane Glasse, powre thereuppon freshe cleane Oyle of Olyues, this wyll conserue it, and keepe it from the corruption of Aire, and so you maye preserue your iuice, as this & many other mo serue for syrupes and Salues, [Page] for the health of mankinde. And thus I do end of the nature of Paunses, or the triple coloured Uiolettes, called herba Trinitatis.

What goodnes is I pray you in the Iuy, the Womens Christmas herbe▪ whose leaues be euer greene?

Hedera or the Iuie bush. THe Iuy is like a freshe lusty young pleasaunt body, still flo­rishing and greene, the Greekes do cal it Cissos of Bacchus, for they called him Citton, and this is Bacchus herbe or hys Wynter Crowne, & the Uyne is his Crowne in Summer. This is a very euill neyghbour, for where as it doth growe vpon any tree, the tree decayeth, although the Iuy do florish still greene, whereas it is nourished. There be .iij. kindes of Iuy, the white, which is the male, bringeth forth white beries: the second bareth blacke beris: Iuie hath many goodly vertues in medicine. the iij. is fruitles, or groūd Iuy so named, these be cōmonly known. Iuy is of a contrary compounded faculty, adstringing, binding, or stopping which is cold & earthly: and it is also bitter and hoat, if it be greene, but dry and cold, The beries sodden in Wyne & drunke, do stop the blouddy flixe, drunke two times in the day and as mutch in the night: the tender leaues sodden in sharp Uinegar, tempered with crums of leauen bread, will helpe the lyuer, made in plaster. Stamped with Roses and tempered with oyle of Roses, Uinegar and Womans mylke, it doth make a good frontall, for hys forehead, that is payned in the head. The iuyce, with oyle of bitter Al­mondes, warme put into th'eares, helpeth the instrument of hearing: the leaues sodden in Wyne, be good to anoynt or wash thē, whych haue spots, or scabbes in the face, skin, and pryuy partes. Nothing preuayleth more a­gaynst the Cancer, then the iuyce of Iuy, tempered with clarifyed Hony, & Wyne sodden together, & so vse the same drinke .i.ʒ. After the natural pur­gation of Women▪ if it be drunk, it causeth sterility and barrennesse in them. The iuyce warme, powred into the contrary eare, doth helpe the teeth, on the other syde, if they do ake, but if the beries of Iuy, called Corymbi be of­ten tymes drunke, sayth Dioscorides, they wyll vexe and trouble the mynde. Hony and the beries of Iuy, To kyll lyce. wyll kyll Lyce in chyldrens heads: the iuyce put into the mouth of the matrix, wyll draw forth the dead chylde. The greene leaues, sodden in Wyne, sayth Galen, do knit, heale, and ioyne cuts, and great woundes together, and heale the body: But yet this iuyce oftentimes drunke in Wyne wyll heale the terrour of a Tertian, To heale wounds. or horror, of a quarten, drunke before the fit, and also purgeth the head, put into the nose, and wil shorten the sicknesse. The Gum of Iuy wil blister, and is very hoat, & they which gather it, must cut the barkes from the Iuy: and euery morning, To gather Iuie gum. when the sap doth ascend, they shal find it in the nether cut of the barke. Euen so when it discendeth in y ^e vpper barke or rinde, renue your cut euery morning, & washe your hands in vinegar, and Rose water, and your face in like case, To draw teeth with out payne. before you gather it. But whipe it not, & then your gum shal not blister, or hurt your skyn: thys gum tempered with Waxe, put to a pay­ned tothe, wil drawe it forth without paine: this gum must be kept close in [Page 40] a glasse or boxe of cleane mettell: and these foresayd vertues are confirmed by the best learned, as Dioscorides, Galen, Plinie. &c. Dioscor lib. 2. Capi. Clxxv. Plini. Lib. 16. Cap. xxxiiii. Theophrastus lib. iii. cap. 18. Galen libro simp. medic. 7 And thus I do end of this Iuie, whose gum, leaues, and beries, are wholsome for mankynde. Euen so they are for beasts, as horses or Oxen, against the sickenesses of y ^e Lunges, sodden in Ale or wine, with Anisseedes and [...]ayes.

What is the weede, which h [...]th leaues like Peres, growing in Marris or moist ground?

THis herbe hath broune spottes, in the midds of the leaues, and knottes in the ioyntes, stalkes red, flowers like Lauender. First whyte, Persicaria or Pereleues. growing in marris groūd called Iasper. then purple, rootes yellow, small seedes, many in number growyng on the braunche. This of nature is cold and dry, the tast doth declare the same: this herbe sodden in Planten water, Ptisant or red wine, doth stop the bloudy fliex. And this same herbe, is good to heale Fistulaes: it clēseth rotten sores, and furthermore healeth new wounds. And thus I leaue of this herbe,

What bee brakes good for.

COmmonly knowen, to lodge the Deare, Brakes cal­led Filix or Ferne. to shroud and couer the Conie wythall. Dry Brakes be good Fuell, wheras smal plēty of woodis, or cole. There be brakes male, without flower and seede, growyng frō one grea­te roote many braūches, with spots vpon their leaues: the female Brake is common in Warreins & Parkes, And groweth long: if the roote be cut ouerthwart, To kil broad [...] wormes in the chest or belly. there wil apeare the similitude of an Egle spleid .iiii.ʒ. waight, of the male Roote, dryed and beaten into pouder, & drunke with sweete water, doth kyll broad wormes in the cheste or belly. But it is bitter, sayth Dioscorides: if fower half­peny waight of prepared Scammonie, be drunke with the same, Dioscorides. it wyll worke accordingly, or els as mutth pouder of blacke Elleborus. The female Brake rootes. ʒ.iiii▪ drunke, sodden in wyne, do kil round wormes: it is perilous to giue to women, it maketh them barren. And if a woman with chyld drynke it, it maketh an abortiue or dead Chyld come forth: the meale or pouder of Brakes, healeth daungerous sores vpon beasts bodyes, as Swine, Kyne. Brake seedes were neuer seene among christen peo­ple, but wit­ches haue v­sed practise w ^t them, as foo­lish writers affirme. &c. The yong braunches of Brakes, eaten, beyng tenderly sodden, do moly­fy very gently the belly. Galen, Theophrastus and Plinie, affirmeth the same. This herbe beareth no seedes at any tyme, although Witches fayne, y ^t great Secretes may be wrought wyth the same: which must be gathered, say they, vpon Midsomer night: As sure I warrant you, as the sea doth burn, it wil do no lesse. This herbe is hoat and dry, and is called Thelepteris because it hath winges, or leaues like byrds fethers.

What is the vertue of the dead stinkyng Nettle?

[Page] The dead Nettle. IT may be called a dead Nettle, it is lyke in shape vnto the burning Nettle, but stingeth not: it is called Archangell, with a stalke fower square. There be three kindes of Arch­angell, Whyte, called Lamium, Yellowe, and Purple wyth Blacke seede, hoat and dry of nature: the whyte Flowers do helpe the Shingles, stamped and applyed to the sore pla­ces of the skin: this hearbe stamped wyth Salt, maketh a plaster for the gout: swelling in the throate, and Dogges byting. The rootes stamped wyth Salt, do drawe forth thornes, or pryckes from the body. And thus I ende of this dead Nettle.

What be the properties of Cresses?

CResses be commonly knowne, there be both of the water, and also of the Lande: N [...]turtiu [...]. Le [...]idion, or Cresses. Garden, and Ryuer Cresses, spring from March, to the ende of May, and are neere hand hoat in the .4. degree, not so mutch drying: the seede is chiefly vsed in medy­cine. Cresses helpe the Palsy. The herbe is good greene, but nothing worth dry: these seedes sodden in Wyne, in a linen bagge and holden vnder the tongue, or champed in the mouth, do help a speachlesse man, or him whych hath the Palsy, ☞ through a long or strong agewe. This wil dry vp moyst hu­mours, it prouoketh vryne, sodden in white Wyne: and stoppeth Gonorrhaea passio, or wasting of nature. And this herb so helped a Gentilman of Suf­folke, called Thomas Colby, which long time was troubled with the same, when other medicines▪ did take in him small effect, duryng his seruice in the field or warre, finally he was recouered by this, This herbe, specially sayth Dioscorides, the rootes stamped wyth fresh Hogges grease, do make an excel­lent plaster, agaynst the paynes of y ^e ioyntes, layed vpon warme .4. howers: but for women, but .ij. howers. And also the same for the Sciatica ▪ and then quickly to sweate in the bath: then when the pacient hath sweat, to anoint it, wyth the Oyle of Cresses, and warme sodden Wyne. And to drynke of thys Wyne, Cresses doe helpe many infirmities. wherein Cresses be soddē is good against paynes in y ^e ioynts, Dropsy, Timpany, Gout, swelling, Palsy, Pore, Apostumacions, Reumes, bloudy flixes, broyses, and moystnes of the brayne and eyes▪ &c. Galen com­mendeth the same. lib. 1. de compos. medica. secundum locos, Cap. vij.

What is the vertue or nature of Horstayle?

Horsetayle. Caudae equin [...].THys is also called Hippurus, that is, Horstayle bicause it busheth lyke hayre about the ioynt: and is of two kyndes, soft & long: and gro­weth in moyst ground, and watry places: it is called holy Water sprinkle or bushe. It dryeth, and restrayneth, and is bitter: this herb soddē, the Wyne or decoction thereof, is good agaynst the bloudy flixe, stopping of the Bladder. It mundifyeth the Stomacke, and sydes, and clenseth the [Page 41] Lunges: and if the guts be hurt and wounded, nothinge is better to heale them, than the syrupe or Iuice of Horstayle, sayth Dioscorides. To helpe the flixe. Galen affirmeth that the same herbe doth heale woundes, and stop bloud in the nose, with all the deseases aforesayd, drunke wyth Wyne. Goodly salues of healynge may be made with the same: Plinie sayth▪ & that I haue proued oftentimes, that it healeth ruptures. And further sayth Plinie, ☜ it stoppeth or defendeth Enteroclea, which is a disease very perilous, called ramex intestinorum, when the guts are fallen into the coddes. Euen so it will heale them, To helpe the guttes. drunke often­tymes. And a plaster of this, with warme Uinegar stamped together, & applyed to the Belly, is good, for the same purpose: the Smoake or fume is good to cause childrens Guts, to go back into the body, when as through flixe or colde, they will hang forth. To stoppe the termes of women. Euen so it will stop the immoderate red termes in Women: and this shall suffice, of the same herbe.

What is the herbe Botris?

THis herb Botris is so named, because the seede is so plentifull, clustring wyth great number on the braunches, it groweth by Ryuers, Sweet [...] Botris. or Wa­ter sides, & is rype in September. This herbe is sweete, and when it is dry, it is good to cast into Chestes, to preserue apparell frō Mothes, & to make both linen, and wollen sweete. This herbe is yellowe, whereof is plenty neere vnto Paris in Fraunce: It is hoat and dry of nature. Drunke in Wyne, it helpeth the lunges, and clenseth them from colde coughes, and sorenesse in the breast: and helpeth against the shortnesse of Wynde, Diosco­rides, Paulus, and Plinie affirme the same.

What say you of Gentian?

THys was founde by Gentian, a noble Kynge of Illyrica, which beinge wounded in battayle, had health by the same herbe: Gentian a bitter herbe. hauing many vertues. it is leaued lyke Plantan, the rootes be also not vnlike Aristolochia the longe. Thys roote is grosse and bitter, with yellowe Flowers, growinge vppon highe Mountaynes or Alpes, and we haue plenty thereof among our Apotheca­ [...]aries, it is hoat and dry, and most bitter. Two dragmes drunk with Pe­per and Rewe in Wyne, do defend from poyson, and biting of serpentes: & it is good for wounded men to drynke: and casteth dead children from the matrix. This is profitable agaynst all oppilation, and stopping of the Ly­uer, gall, and splene, and wil purge choller: but it is perilous for Women with childe to drinke. There is nothing better for Illiaca passio, it strengthe­neth the Stomacke. This is not onely profitable to mankinde agaynste Dropsy, stoppyng of the body, venime, poyson, and pestilence, to bee drunke in Wyne or Water: but also it helpeth the dumbe brute beastes, as horse, ox­en. &c. for all diseases of the lunges, to be giuen them, as Plinie sayth. The roote sodden, is good agaynst conuulsion, and shrinking of the Synewes. And thus I do end of Gentian.

What is the property and vertue of Lauender?

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OF thys kynde, there is Lauender Spica, which is the great Lauender: Lauender the sweete vertue therof, whol­some for colde folkes. then there is the single Lauender. Thys hearbe is called the counterfayt, or false Nardus, and is named Lauendula, because it is good in bathes and washing, and giueth a sweete odour. This herbe is commonly knowen and is hoat and dry in the seconde degree: and is good agaynst the coldnesse of the stomacke, hardnesse of the splene, and swelling of the guts, stopping of the Lyuer, & the raynes, it prouoketh vryne. Nothing is better agaynst the diseases of y ^e Synewes, the coldnesse of the Brayne, Palsy, & Falling euill, eyther to be drunk, Lauender hel­peth the Sy­newes. Oyle of spike doth warme. or els smell of this herb, or also to be anoynted w ^t the goodly warme oyle made thereof. Whych oyle hath vertue, agaynst all the dyseases of the Synewes: and thus I end of thys herbe.

What is the nature of Mandragora?

MAny supersticious, and foolishe thynges haue bin deuised of thys herbe: a very inuencion of Wytches, and Hypo­crites, through the suggestion & motion of the deuill, to delude the weake hart of mankynde wythall. For they doe affyrme, that this herbe cōmeth of the seede of some conuicted dead men: and also, without the death of some lyuing thinge, it cannot be drawen out of the earth to mans vse. An old super­sticion, inuen­ted by wyt­ches, and a practice of Sathan. Therefore, they did tye some Dogge, or other lyuing beast vnto the roote thereof wyth a corde, and digged the earth in compasse rounde about, and in the meane tyme stopped their own cares, for feare of the ter­reble shriek, and cry of thys Mandrack. In whych cry, it doth not only dye it selfe, but the feare thereof kylleth the Dogge or Beast, whych pulled it out of the earth. And this hearbe is called also Anthropomorphos because it beareth the Image of a man, and that is false. For no herbe hath the shape of a man or Woman, no truely, it is not naturall of his owne growing: but by the crafty inuention of some false man, it is done by arte. As many rootes may be made, in the formes of men, foules, and beastes, and secretly couered in the earth: Mandrack is made lyke a man or Womā by craft, for nature giueth no mās shape to a Beast, mutch lesse to an herbe. which when they are found, by the crafty hyder there­of, the beholders be dryuen into no small admiration and wounder, suppo­sing there by, that some straunge fearefull thing, shall quickly followe the same. My Friend Marcellus, the discription of this Mandracke, as I haue sayd, was nothing, but the imposterous subtilty of wicked people. Per­haps of Fryers, or supersticious Monkes, whych haue wrytten thereof at length: but as for Dioscorides, Galen, and Plinie. &c. they haue not wrytten thereof so largely, as for to haue head, armes, fyngers. &c. But there is an herbe called Mandracke, whose leaues be large and long, lyke vnto large Lettice: whose apples be in the forme of Cheries, very colde, properly gy­uen to helpe conception, some say, as it appeereth by the Wyues of the ho­ly Patryache Iacob. The one was fruictfull, the other did desire helpe, by the meanes of Mandracke, brought out of the Fyeldes, by the handes [Page 42] of Ruben Leas sonne. This herb hath a long large roote, Gene. xxx. This place proueth not y ^e Mandracke will helpe cō ­ception, but Mandracke wil clense the matrix, or cast forth the dead child from the same, then it wyll kill the liuing seede. Dioscorides ▪ is of that mynde. with two Legges in forme, one wrapped about the other: and fine rootes like hayre, growing vpon it. But no armes, feete, fingers, handes, head, nor stalkes, but y ^e leaues creepe out of the ground: of whych herbe be two kindes, male, and female, the male greater than the female. This herbe is cold in the thirde degree, & hath vertue, to cause deepe sleepe: the strength is in the Apple, and in the rynde of the roote. The remnant, that is in the leaues, and inward partes of the roote, is but weake sayth Galen: the seedes of the apple, sayth Dios­corides, beyng drunk, wyll purge the Belly. The iuyce of thys herbe pressed forth, and kept in a close earthen vessell, according to arte, bringeth sleepe, and casteth men into a trans on a deepe terrible dreame, vntill he be cut of the stone. &c. This herbe sodden in Wyne vnto the thirde parte, doth purge blacke choller as well as Elleborus niger will do. This herbe stamped, and applied vpon a wound or vlcer, doth heale the same, and so naturally, that it wyll suffer no scar or marke called Stigma to remayne: the leaues be pre­serued in Salt, for the same purpose. The greene leaues stamped, and ap­plyed wyth the white of an Egge to the eyes, do asswage the swelling, bur­ning, or dropping of them: if the roote be cut in sundry places, The vertue of Mandrack, is to make one to sleepe. there wyll come forth a worthy iuyce to anoynt the forehead, to bring sleepe. Pessaries be made of this, whych wyll draw forth dead children, from the matrix: Therefore rightly to say, it doth rather hinder then furder concepcion: the roote is vnpleasaunt to smell vpon, and pestiferous, sayth Plinie. The iuyce must be gathered, when Grapes be ripe, and clarified in the Sonne, & kept close. The aples must be dryed in y ^e Sūne, & the roote must be sodden in old dark coloured Wyne, which Wyne must be soddē to y ^e third part: the aples may be brused & kept in vnripe oyle Olife in y ^e Sunne. All these be good to coole, to cause sleepe, moderatly vsed. Two halfpeny waight of the pouder of the rynde thereof, Mandrake was called Circaeum and also Anthro­pomorphos. may be drunke in sweete Water for the Kynges euil, or lacke of sleepe. The iuyce thereof with oyle & Hony, healeth woūdes: and thus I end of Mandrack, whych in old tyme, it was called Circaeum, of Wytches, whych had vertue (sayd they) or craft to transforme, both man beast, and herbe out of kynde. Among all other, they wrought Wonders by this herbe, to prouoke, bewitch, or cast men into mad blynd fantasies, or frē ­ses, called Loue, whych rather may be termed, noysome beastly Lust, and when it is wrought by herbes, foolishnesse.

What is to be sayd of Crowfoote, wherefore is it good?

THys herbe is called Ranunculus, or Frogwort: Of sundry kyndes of Crowfoote called Ranun­culi, or little Frogges grasse. of this Crow­foote Dioscorides founde fower kindes, lib. 2. Capit. 171. But since his dayes, three kindes more be founde: these be herbes both of the water, whereas Frogges do cast their Sperma or seede, in whych herbe, they do greatly reioyce. And also of y ^e lande, as Garden, Medowe, and Wood Crowfoote: thys herbe is commonly knowne. Some haue whyte Flowers, some yelowe, some Purple: some haue Leaues like Coriander, some haue Leaues lyke [Page] Beares foote, growing vpon the top of the stalke, hauing long rootes. An­other hath broade iagged leaues, growing neere the grounde, but vpward smaller leaues lyke Crowfoote, do grow vpon the braūches. These herbes be vehemētly hoat and dry, Dioscorides lib. 2. Cap. 171 and do vlcerate and blister the skin, wherewith valiaunt beggers, doe blister their legges and faces, whych maketh theym to seeme Leprous, and whosoeuer doth eate of these herbes, shall be smit­ten into madnesse. Their sinewes shalbe shronke, and they shall laugh them selues to death, if they do eate of the kinde of Crowfoote, called Apium ri­sus as Plinie doth testifie: the roote thereof dried, prouoketh neesing, and is good to be put in an hollow toth, to breake it, and drawe it forth without payne. The iuyce of this herbe, tempered with Beares grease, will brynge hayre to the balde head. Also this iuyce taketh away skabbes, and crusty scurfes from the legges and armes, of sore people. And tempered w ^t swines grease, it helpeth the swelling of y ^e throate. And thus I end of Crowfoote.

What is the nature of Aconitum?

THis herbe is venemous, whereof be two kindes: the one is called Pardalianches, A conitum Libardes. bane. or Liberdes bane. The other is called Licoctonon, or Wolfes poyson. The first hath three or fower leaues, growing in the top, wyth a rounde bery in the middes, and no leaues vpon the braunche, hauing a long roote lyke a Serpent, very rugged. The seconde hath many leaues vpon the braunche or stalke, like vnto Crowfoote, with yellow flo­wers in the top like Brome, with long deuided blacke rootes. This herbe groweth in May, and is acorosiue burning, poysoning, and killinge. The pouder of this roote, put into peeces or baytes of fleshe, poysoneth Wylde beastes: as Wolfes, Foxes, Grayes, Polcattes. &c. and is venemous for mankinde: To poyson Wolues and Foxes. and there is no remedy, but to drinke oyle, and to prouoke vo­mit, to expulse the poyson.

What is the vertue of Geranium, called Sheepherdes needell?

THys herbe is called the Storkes bille, or Cranes beake, for there grow out of the flower, Sheepherdes Needle. Geranium. seedes like Bodkins or Needels, whereof there bee sixe kyndes. Some of their leaues be like Crowefoote: and some like vnto Mugwort. Some haue purple Flowers, and they be the first kynde: and some white, wyth red rootes, but some of them haue whyte rootes. And they be all of nature stopping and drying, the rootes be sweete of the fyrste kynde, Diosco. lib. 3 Cap. 114. and red also. Dioscorides sayth, that if a dragme of the fyrst kynde of the herbe, be drunke in wyne, it doth aswage the swelling of the matrix, and Belly, and healeth the cough of the lunges: Paulus Aegineta is of the same mynde. But you must take the fyrst kynde, whose leaues be in forme, betwene the leaues of Rocket and Mugwort: with the long red roote, called Geranium primum. This roote wyll breake y ^e stone, and clense y ^e raynes and bladder. This herbe & the third kind, with blew flowers, do heale woū ­des [Page 43] and sores: and the same thirde is called Douesfoote, which if it be sod­den, and applied on sores, it will heale them. The first kinde with Mirrhe, Doues foote· and Peper, sodden in Wyne, is good agaynst the Dropsy, collike, winde, and woundes within the body, and cricke in the necke. There is also a kynde of this Geranium, whych is good for woundes, called hearbe Robert: but ra­ther I take it to be called Ruberta, a rubro colore, an herbe of a red colour. Herb Robert And thus I do conclude of Geranium, called Storkes bill, or Sheepherdes nee­dle: Whereof the firste kynde, is the best for the stone, and raynes, & out­ward woundes. The Doues foote is good for sores & festers, so is herbe Robert: all the other be euill and venemous inwardly taken, but yet for drying mayst sores outwardly, they be tolerable. And thus I make an end of Geranium, called Crowe foote.

What vertue is there in Angelica, that sweete roote?

THys hearbe Angelica is very longe leaued, indented, Angelica, or Angels blome, Some call it Radix sancti Spiritus, the roote of the holy Ghost. or hath small teeth like Eldren, a great stalke, and hollowe, a bigge sweete roote, blacke without, and whyte within, Purple flowers wyth white spottes, and great broade seedes. Thys is called the Angels herbe, whych is of .ij. kyndes, of the garden and of the field: this herbe excelleth al other, agaynst poyson, and is hoat and dry. It doth open, warme, dissolue, & is good agaynst the fearefull daungerous plague, called the pestilence, if it be but bitten vpon, mutch more it is effectual being drunke in the morning. The pouder drunke wyth Wyne .x. grane waight, or the water drunke .xx. droppes in the morning in Wyne, is a goodly armour agaynst poyson, foule ayre or plague: this clenseth the Lunges, Breast, Guttes, Raynes, Angelica. defendeth the pestilence. & Blad­der. This herbe soden in Wyne, & Water, doth heale inward woundes: & this doth strengthen the heart, and dryeth superfluous moysture as y ^e drop­sy, and Timpany. And they which can not kepe their meate, for weaknes, through vomits, let them drynke this. It deliuereth from byting of Ser­pentes, as Snakes, or els any pricke or wound, if it be sodden with Rewe, Hony, and Wyne. It hath one vertue, excellent for young lusty, Angelica preserueth chastity. single Peo­ple, to quench carnall rage, or youthfull lust: if one do byte or swallow ʒ.ss. of this, it will extinguishe the same▪ wyth many more vertues, for y ^e whych few herbes, are to be compared to it.

What is the vertue of Lagopus, wyth three leaues growing vpon the stalke, and a rough flower, like an Haresfoote, it groweth in Corne, in Haruest tyme?

THys is called Lagopus, or Hares foote, it hath growing neere the flo­wers, three Leaues together, in sundry places, Hares foote Lagopus. and is also called the triple Hares foote. And is of a drying vertue, sayth Galen, and sod­den in Wyne and drunke, it doth stop the Belly in a Flixe: and thys also af­firme Dioscorides and Plinie.

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What say you of Lunaria, that increaseth & deminisheth in one moneth?

Lunaria or the herbe of the Moone.THis herbe springeth in the end of May, sending from the stalke .xiiij. leaues, growing seuen agaynst seuen, in the forme of little heartes, but greene in colour, in the top it beareth seedes, like Beate seede, and is colde and dry of nature. Oh how this herbe preuayleth, or excelleth in hea­ling of woundes, knitting them vp, making no scarre▪ Goodly salues bee made thereof so there be Balmes also: this herbe in red Wyne drunk, doth stop the Whytes and Fluxe which passeth from Women vnnaturally. Lunaria hea­leth woūdes.

What sayest thou of Lysimachus, which is a long herbe, bearing a leafe lyke Sallowes, and is called Woodwaxen?

Lysimachus stoppeth blod Lysimachus a king of Ma­cedon, founde this herbe, he was scholer to Calist he­nes, and one of Alexanders most worthy Captaynes. THis herbe groweth also among Salowes, of two kindes: one beareth red flowers, and the other yellowe or golden flowers, and was found by Lysimachus, it florisheth in Iune, and is of ver­tue drying, and bynding: it gleweth woundes together, stop­peth bloud at the nose, applyed to the same: it stoppeth bloudy Flixe, and termes menstruall, drunke in Wyne or Planten water. And the smoake thereof, kill Gnats and Flies, this affirmeth Dioscorides, Galen, and Plinie: it is so bitter, that no beaste will feede thereof. And it is in Englishe called Woodwaxen, it dyeth greene.

What is that herbe, called Hartes horne?

Harts horne or the starres he. [...].THis herbe called Cornu Cerui, Hartes Horne, some call it Pes Cornicis, Crowes foote. Some herba Stellae, because it spreadeth abroade with iagged leaues, or beames like a Starre, growing flat, neere y ^e groūd, with flowers growing mutch like small Lauender, but yellow. Plinie wri­teth of this herbe. lib 24. Cap. 19. This herbe helpeth the flixe, and is good in Sallets. The rootes sodden & eaten, sayth Dioscorides, and Galen, do help the Ilias, and stop bloud in newe woundes. &c.

What say you of Safron?

OVID that pleasaunt Poet fayneth, that a younge man called Crocus, was transformed into Safron, Crocus Safron. for the lout of a Uirgin named Smilax as it is written: Crocus wyth Smilax was turned into small flowers:

This Safron is commonly known here in England, both in Norffolke, Cambridge shyre, and Essex. &c. wyth purple flowers, wyth yellowe small Chiues, and heades growing in the grounde, wherein be cloues of yerely [Page 44] increase. The best Safron in al this world, doth grow say sundry Writers, The best Sa­fron of this World, where i [...] is. vpon a Mountayne called Coricos in Sycill, y ^e next in Lyca in Asia the lesse. &c. But let vs go no furder than this our naturall realme, in which assuredly there groweth sutch Safron as there is no better in Europe. The flower doth spring of this before the leafe, it is hoat in the first degree, Against drū ­kennesse, Sa­fron helpeth. and dry in the second: it doth warme, make, soft, digest, prouoke vrine, & make good co­lour in the face. It comforteth the heart, and defendeth drunkennesse, mo­ueth Venus: and. ʒ.ij. is good agaynst poyson, and it will reconcile sleape: tempered wyth Rose water and Womans Mylke, & dropped into the eye, A singular medicine for the pestilence. it will take away dropping and dimnesse. Oyle of bitter Almondes, and the pouder of Safron, warme powred into the deafe eare, doth help the organ of hearing. The pouder of Safron .x. graynes, Walnuts, twenty graynes Figges. ʒ.ij. & sixe Sage leaues stamped together, with. ʒ.j. of Pimpernel water, and three graynes of Mithridatum: kepe this in a close glasse, and eate thereof in the morning twelue graynes, and this will defende the re­ceyuer thereof, from the Pestilence. Many godly Medicines bee made of Safron, as Diacurcuma agaynst the Iaundice: and it is put in many Anti­dotaries, and also plasters, as Oxicroceum. &c. and with oyntmentes agaynst Palsy and Gout. Dioscorides, Galen, and Plinie affirme the same. Simeon Sethi sayth, Safron, Mylke, Rose water▪ & Opium tempered together: do make a goodly medicine agaynst the paynes of the feete. Safron hath many vertues Safron stamped wyth Beate leaues, do reconcile sleepe, applied to the forehead. Safron is good a­gaynst all maner of swelling in the breast, wynde in the Belly and Guts: & stopping of the mouth of the matrix, eyther in oyntment, or drynke. It is a good cordiall, to be vsed in the meates, of melancholy persons, to reioyce, & make glad a weake heart. And thus I do ende of this our Englishe spyce, my deare Marcellus.

WHat say you of a Thistell, growing neere y ^e Sea side, called Eryngium, or Carduus Marinus: I haue seene mutch thereof growing betwene Lestoffe rode, & Orforde nesse, by the Shore side in Suffolke.

THis in deed is called Eryngium, The sea Thi­stle, called E­ringus, whych is so called, be cause if the roote be soddē and conserued with Hony [...] Cloues it wil preserue na­ture, or lyft him vp, which is decayed, it may come of Erigo, gis, ere [...]i to lift vp, o [...] repayre. Diosco. lib. 3. Capi. lxxj. but the true name is Centum capita, because of the number of the heads: which is lyke a Thistell with thicke pricking leaues, and long rootes, whose leaues being yet tender, if they be boyled, they may w ^t Salt, and Oyse, be trimly preserued for Sallets. This herbe with the rootes, as Plinie sayth, must be gathered, when the Sun is in Cancer, in the midds of Sommer. They be blacke without, and white within: but some rootes of them, be white both within and without, very Aromatik and sweete like spice. This roote or herbe, being made in pou­der, infusion or decoction, & drunke, doth clense the raynes, bladder, and ma­trix, and cause the stopped termes to passe. And it greatly preuaileth against the Collike. and torment of the Guts, drunke, in, or wyth Hydromel. It is good against y ^e falling sicknes, drunke a dragme at a time: the rootes must [Page] be tenderly sodden, and preserued in Succate, to the vse of m [...]te or medy­cine in Winter, Galenus lib. 7. Simp medi. as to restore nature, or helpe the conception of nature: Plinje sayth, of this roote. ʒ, i. drunke in wyne, healeth the prycke of any venemous beast, or worme or feuer. The iuice or oyle of thys, doth cleane recouer any venome of the body, infected with a Spider. Heraclydes the Phisition did af­fyrme, Against poy­son. that this herbe, the leafe or roote, being sodden and drunke, dyd pre­uayle and ouercome the poyson of any venemous herb, which any haue ea­ten ignorauntly. As Aconitum called Leopardes bane. &c. Aetius affyrmeth, to drynke this xvi. Euenyngs to bedward, and as many mornings, doth heale all infections of the raynes, Eringium helpeth them which can not make wa­ter, or which haue eaten a­ny venemous herbe sayerh Ateius and Heraclyde [...]. stopping of the vrine, or stone. This Eryngium is of nature somwhat warme, and very dry.

There is a Thistell called Chamaelion, wherefore is it good, and why is it so called?

FIrst, to the vertue of this Thistel, it is ripe in August: and the roote is hoat in the second degree, The Bore or carle Thistel [...] [...] Cha­maelion. and dry in the thyrd. This roote sodden in Ale or Wyne, and drunk, doth kyl the wormes in the chest and belly One dragme of the pouder therof, drunk in sharp old wine, wherein Organ hath ben sodden, wil helpe the Dropsy, and also the same wil prouoke vrine, and breake the stone. The Thistell healeth the Pestilence. It is drunke in wyne in place of Triacle, sayth Dioscorides, lib. iij. Cap. ix. when Charles the great, his armie began to be diminished, through an horrible Pestylence, he was warned to vse none other medicine, but on­ly that euery souldiour should drinke. Note that the black Thistel roote with swines grease and Bri [...]stōe wil heale scabbes and itch. ʒ.i. of it in wyne: which beyng done, the sayd Pestilence dyd cease presently▪ This roote sodden, the decoction there­of holden in the mouth, wyll lose rotten teeth, so that with litle help, they may be drawen. Theophrastus lib. ix. Cap. xiij. de plantarum historia saith, that there is distaunce, betwene the vertues of these two rootes. The one is black, the o­ther whyte, which white is best, to do as is aforesayd. Further, the Iuice of these rootes, wyl kyl dogges & swyne: if it be put into their meates, Plinie af­firmeth y ^e same. Now to y ^e name, which is called Chamaelion not only bicause it is diuers of colour as hauing blew flowers, speckled leaues, which is y ^e black kynd. &c. The white hath a long roote, no stalkes, Leaues lyke wylde Arty­chokes, great head, many sharp pryckes, with plumes shaken, or blowen a­way with wynd. And to conclude, looke vpon what soyle or Earth so euer these thistles▪ grow vpon they wyl chaunge their colours like the same. As a litle beast, which is in Inde, called Chamaelion, spotted like a Libard, which chaungeth into diuers colours, Of the littie. beast called Chamaelion. accordyng vnto the thing, which it seeth. This beast doth neuer eate nor drynke▪ nor winke, but liueth by the ayre on­ly: which litle beasts, be yerely brought from Barbarie, by the ships of Lon­don, into this Realme.

UUhat is to be spoken of Diars flowers, called flos Tinctorum.

[Page 45]THys is along herb, wyth yellow flowers, hauing small black Cods, in whych the seede is lyke Lentelles, the leaues be lyke Hysope, Flos tinctoris but mutch larger and longer. This is hoat and dry, in the second degree, and is of the nature of Brome: To vomitte. and this herb is good for a man. ʒ.j.ss. ey­ther the herbe or seede to drynk to prouoke vomit, to clense the stomacke, & purge the raynes. Drunke two sundry times, it will prouoke vrine, when it is stopped.

What say you of rubia Tinctorum, called Madder?

THere be of them two kyndes, the garden Madder, Madder with red rootes. with quadran­gle stalkes, and sharpe, and at euery ioynte, the leaues grow round about the stalke: the berries be round and greene, when they are yong, being ripe, then are they blacke: the rootes long, small, & red of colour. The wylde Madder is lesse, wyth stalkes fower square, leaues compassing them lyke Starres: flowers white, but rootes not so rough. Dioscorides lib. [...] cap. 143 This herb is called of the Greekes Erythrodanon, wyth thys, Diars colour their Wooll wythall: it is hoat in the second degree, and dry in the thyrde. This will clense the bladder, breake the stone, and force vryne, sayth Auer­hois, and is good to be drunke agaynst bruses, and the Pestilence: Against the Pestilence. drunk in sweete water, it helpeth the kynges euill. The rootes or berries sodden, sai­eth Galen lib. vj. simplic. medicamen. will clense the Lyuer, Splene, Gall, U­rine, Matrix, Brusinges, and the paynes in the Ioyntes, chiefly the huckle bones, called Ischias or Sciatica.

What is Paritorie of vertue?

PArtriges do delight to feede vpon this herbe, Galen sayth, Parietaria that g [...]o [...] vpon stone. walles. it hath vertue to clense, stop, and coole: therefore it hath vertue to helpe flegmon. From the beginning, augmenting, vnto the state of the sayd flegmon, the hoatter any Apostumacion is the better this herbe will helpe the same: if you make a plaster of this Parietaria, it is good to clense the lunges▪ when they are stopped, for it hath vertue to scower or clense. No herbe is better to make cleane glasse, then this herbe as Galen af­firmeth, if it be incorporate wyth Salte: it will help the Hemeroydes, & a Fistula. The iuyce of this being drunke, clenseth the raynes, and by little & little, doth breake the stone: and anoynt Shingles, or saynct Anthonies fyre therewith, and health will follow the same wyth speede. For the goute The same iuyce wyth Waxe, and Goates tallow melted together is a good plaster, for to take the payne of the gout away sayth Plinie: this Iuyce also wyth Oyle of Roses, powred warme into the eare, will take away the payne.

What say you then to Cartamus?

[Page] IT is called wylde Safron of the garden, with indented Lea­ues, Cartamus or wyld sa [...]rō sharpe ends, the flowers yelow, and knoppes as bigge as Oliues. The Seedes white and redde, longe and cornered: the Seede is hoate in the thirde degree: the iuice of this seede pressed forth, drunke with the Broth of a chicken, wyll purge the belly, and to the stomacke it is noysome: the iuice tempered with Niter, Cartamus clenseth hu­mours. Almondes, Honie, and Anisseedes, beaten together, is very beneficy­all to clense the guttes. To eate thereof the thyrd part of a Walnutte, before supper, it is very good for to conueigh excrements, & superfluous humours, and it fortifyeth digestion.

What is Spurge, or Purge of Nature?

THere is one kinde▪ called Ricinus or palma Christi: wherof there is Oyle made for Lampes, Great spurge called Rici­nus in Dio­scorides dayes xxx. Seedes, but now .viij. wil suffise bi­cause nature is weaker, Dioscorides lib. 4. cap. 158. and plasters called oleum Ricinium. Dioscorides sayth if .xxx seedes thereof, be cleane blaunched from the rind, and stamped, then drynke this sayth hee, & it wyll purge fleume and choller, and Water downward. This seede will trouble the stomacke, and cause stronge vo­mites: the iuice thereof wyll clense the face from pimples and spottes, and make smoth the skynne from wartes, broken with Oyle of Tartar, and a­noynt the place withall: this is hoat in y ^e third degree, and skowreth, war­meth, and clenseth: the leaues be like figge leaues. Then there be seuen kin­des of the Tithimal [...], Larhyris, or Cataputia minor, or the leue Spurge. sayeth Dioscorides lib. iiij. Capi. Clix. and other old writers: which herbes bee called Goates Lettice, or the Milke herbe, for if you break of a piece thereof, droppes of bitter Milke will follow▪ But to our common Catapucia or Spurge, thys is hotte in the third degree, and dry in the second and is vsed to clense the body from fleume, To purge choller. choller, and melancholy, sodden in the broth of a chicken with Polopodie, Damaske Prunes, & Mirobolans, and also the herbe called Mercurie. I do here by occasion put to Mercurie, this woord (herbe) because through the absence of a Cooke, Note. in the time whē he should haue made his Lordes broth in the Kitchen, an ignoraunt fellow, dyd put into his pot Mercuri Sublimated, Quid pro quo was giuen to the Lord Wharton in his potage of ignoraunce to his great pe­rill of life. that is Chalcantum, Quicksiluer, Uy­neger, and Salt Armoniack together, which he sent for quickly to the Apo­thicaries shoppe: thynkyng it had ben a pleasaunt, or els a very wholsome confection, or at the least the same Mercury, whych the forsaid Cooke, dyd put daily into the pot, for the health of his Lord and mayster. But eftsones, contrary to hys purpose, or intente, thys broth in whome the lurkyng, slee­pyng, venome was spred, was receiued into the body, of the good LORD Wharton, in whom if wythall speede, medycine had not gotten the happye victory by vomits, &c. thys Noble Gentleman had there lost his life, whose death had bene no small want vnto the publyke wealth of hys country. Nor yet no little comfort vnto the forrain enemy: sutth a violence I say, woulde dedly poyson haue done in one hower by death vpon him, whom Fortune, Wysedome, and honour had aduaunced, and nourished many yeres wyth happy life. And now again to the matter, Marcellus, I neither doe abuse the tyme, nor yet vse to mutch copy of words, when I speake of Mercurye, to [Page 46] put this woord (herbe) thereunto. Unlesse some should, or would, mistake y ^e matter▪ as this good fellow dyd. And further note, Tithimalus Characias. or Lathyris is good in me­dicine to purge melancholy. Choller and fleume. that the pouder of thys Spurge, supped vp w ^t a little Cinamon▪ in y ^e broth of a Chiken, or els a reare Egge in the morning, wyll purge grosse fleume very gently, Euen so it wyll doe, if it bee taken with Hony of Roses. Seuen seedes eaten, sayth Dioscori­des, in a Figge, will purge melancholy and Water. The sayd Seedes seeme sweete, but they purge by vomitte vehemently. Plinie affirmeth, that if one which hath the dropsie, Sondry kin­des of spurge, but yet very perillous, the great spurge and the second excepted, for they be good. do drynke twenty graynes of them in pure sweete water, he shalbe deliuered from the dropsye. Al the other Spurges as Mir­senites, hauing leaues like Mirte, are perilous that grow by the sea side. Cipa­ristus lyke a Cipresse tree. Helioscopius that tourneth with the Sonne, from mornyng vntill night. And the rest of them, be all hoat in the fourth degree, and venemous, burning, as Galen saith, and what part of the Body so euer they take, forthwith they do blister the same, therefore it can not be taken without daunger. Howbeit, Dioscorides, Galen, and Plinie affirme, that it will helpe the toth ach, tempered with waxe: and a dragme of the roote, drunken with Hydromell, will purge fleume downewarde. &c. Thus I doe ende of Spurge.

What is the yellow wall Gilloflower, and the whyte and yellow Gilloflower, called sweete William, or hearts ease?

THis sweete herb is called viola alba, or Cheiri, the white Uiolet that is one kinde: there is also a purple, the thyrd is yellow, Viola Lutea the yellow, Uiolet, the wall Gillow­flower. these be all sweete, and very pleasaunt. They florish in Maye and grow a cu­bitte long: and when their flowers do fade, the seede doth growe in coddes, they be garden flowers, and of nature be hoat and clensing. The yellow, sayeth Dioscorides, is best in medicine, the flowers may bee kept drye to bee drunke, to purge the stopped termes. And of the seede. li. ℥. sodden in wyne, and drunke, doe quickly conueigh, or bryng forth the dead chyld, and the secondes. The rootes sodden in Uineger, be good to anoynte flegmon, and the goute: and the same roote sodden softly with Uineger, and Oyle of Roses, wyll help the liuer and splene, to anoint them, when they be swelled, or hardened. This wyll the yellow Gilloflowers do, besides there is a precy­ous Oyle made thereof: which wyll helpe the raynes and bladder, Flegmon is a certain apo­stimacion of corrupted bloud, gathe­red into one place. or paines in the ioyntes, or sinewes, As appereth in the compounds, and it is there called Olium de violata alba. Now to conclude of this herbe, the iuice thereof tempered with Hony, healeth sores in the mouth and head: And with waxe, the broken skinne fretted wyth wynde in March, called chappes, be made whole. And thus I end of this herbe, which is commonly called Sweete William, or Harts ease: God send thee hartes ease, deare Marcellus. For it is mutch better with pouerty to haue the same, than to be a kyng, The greatest treasor of this world, is a quiet minde. with a my­serable mynde. For, from thence spryngeth eyther felycity, or aduersity: an Image of heauen wyth ioy, or els hel with inward horrour of mynde, and vexation.

[Page] I Dooe hartely thanke you, for wishing to me so precious a Iewell, so rich a treasure, Hartes ease, or quietnesse of the mynde. and so heauenly a comfort. For what is more to be desired, than hartes ease? Nothyng. For when aduersity cometh in at the one doore, eftsones, hartes ease dooth run out at the other. For they can not dwell together in one place. Why so? They be, ii. extreame contraries, and merueilous affections of the mynde felt, and not seene, al­though oftentimes thynges, whych are seene, may be a meanes to brynge quietnes to the minde, and ease to the heart for a time. But rather my deare Hilarius, there be which affirme that harts ease or rest, commeth by the eare, For say they, there is no rest in the heart of the Infidell, but in the beleeuing man: Perfite har­tes, rest and true quietnes of minde. and there can be no faith, without hearing. and not the sight of things worldly bryngeth faith, which faith giueth the true hartes ease, passing all o­ther iewels. And albeit Hilarius, thou art not wythout wordly hartes ease, which I graunt, doth please sometyme thy vaine delight. Yet I pray God giue thee, but one handfull of heauenly hearts ease, which passeth al the plea­saunt flowers, that grow in this Worlde. Now what be the vertues of Hermodactilj, I pray you tell mee.

Hermodactili. of .ii. kyndes. Colchicum & Ephemerum, called the fyn­gers of Her­mis▪ or els of Mercurius, one is like HERMODACTILI, be of two kyndes, the first is Colchi­cum wyld Bulbus, or great wilde Safron, hauyng greate round heades within the ground like Onions, and w ^t black rindes, and Flowers like Saffron, red seede, but shinyng white and red chiues, but very greate, and a span longe: sweete iuice, and it florisheth in the Spryng. The second is lyke a Lillie, with tēder leaues, white flowers, bitter seede, one long roote, of the bignes of a fynger. Safron, the other like lyl­lies. And both these Hermodactilj be called Mercuryes fyngers. Colchicum is of nature hoat and dry, in the second degree. Paulus Ae­ginetae. lib vij. sayeth the roote of Colchis, sodden by it selfe, do purge the belly, and helpeth morbus articularis, which is the sickenes of the ioyntes: as the Goute, the Sciatica, and the paynes in the ioyntes of the handes, called Chy­ragra. The rootes be perillous to be eaten, as other wholsome rootes are in meate, as a Sallette: for they wyl put one in daunger of choking, or strang­lyng. Cholchis rootes wyll strangle one take heede thereof, al­though they seeme sw [...]ete But they wil purge the superfluous humours, and bloud downward and bee venemous, sayth Dioscorides lib. iiij. cap. lxxix, Yet sayth he, they be sweete, and somtime the ignoraunt do eate them for Bulbi, a kynde of sweet rootes: but the remedy is, onely to drinke a great draught of mylke. Theyr rootes and flowers stamped, wyll kyll Lice, anoint chyldrens heads there­with. The second kynd of Hermodactilj is called wylde Iris, or Flowerdeluce of the fyeld, Hermodacti­lus will kyll Lice. or Lillium conuallium, the rootes sodden, the decoction of them, dooth clense the fylthy teeth that stynketh: the leaues sodden in Wine, doe dissolue humours, gathered into apostumacion, if it be warme washed of­ten tymes therewyth, specyally hoat apostumes, or swellynges gathered of Choller. Galen dooeth remember these Hermodactili, callyng them Ephemerum colchicum, or Iris, describing the same, as is aforesayd, with the same Uertues, lib. vij. simplicium medicamentorum.

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WHat vertue is in the herbe Rumex, called the great Docke, Of Rumex▪ the Docke. Monkes Ru­barbe, or ba­stard Mercu­rie. I meane not the Sorel, called Acedula, wherof you answered mee before in this booke.

I Knowe your meaning very well, of that wilde herbe, whych groweth commonly by pathes, hedges, and waters sides. Monkes Rubarbe. And of this kynd, ther is one called Monkes Rubarbe, which groweth in gardens, the other is wilde and with lesser leaues. Mar­cellus, the blynd ignoraunt people, haue of long tyme not a lit­tle erred, in one kynd of Lappa or Rumex. I meane neither So­rell, nor the common wyld Docke, or the bastard Rubarbe: They which call Rumex with the gol­den Sande, Mercurie, do greatly erre. but that which is commonly called Mercurie, with golden sandes, vppon the back sydes of the leaues, great rootes, clusters of seedes, leaues like a brode speare head, not purfled about with iagges, or smal teeth like a saw, which in deede the very Mercurie hath, with one onely roote. Whereupon many small fine rootes do grow, like a bush: and thys Mercurie is mutch like vnto wylde Hempe. But this bastard Mercurie, whereof I haue now spoken called Rumex, is none other but a kynd of Dockes, which being sodden, or vsed in Clyster, wil moue the belly to bee laxatiue. And is good to be sodden in brothes for them which haue the yellow Iaundice. And the roote of this Docke, which is yel­low, is also good for the same purpose, & for the Timpanie of water: Of the great Docke, how it purgeth. a drag­me of the pouder, of the Munkes Rubarbe, called the garden Docke, drunke in wyne, wyll purge fleume, water, and choller downeward. The herbes well sodden in Wyne, and applyed to the swelling of the throte, will speedy­ly helpe the same. And thus I do end of Rumex, called the Docke, and also of the bastard Mercurie, which maister Leonard Fuchsius, doth affyrme to be Ru­mex, in his bookes of Plantes. Chapit. Clxxiiii And some there be, Of the herbe called Atri­plex or Arage whych af­firme this bastard Mercurie, to be one kinde of Atriplex, but red Atriplex is Arage, a garden herbe, which wyl quickly spryng forth, to doe pleasure to mankynd. And is called the golden herb, because of his yellow flowers: and of nature is moyst in the second▪ and cold in the fyrst degree, The kynges euyll. And this herbe raw or sodden, wyl moue the belly to be laxatyue, and is good in Clysters: the seedes thereof drunk with sweete water, wyl very quickly help the kings euill, sayth Dioscorides, & Galen affyrmeth the same. And furthermore, that it wyl open the Gal, and purge choller: Plinie would that the Water, Shift water. often tymes▪ when Atri­plex is sodden wherein Atriplex is sodden should be often times shyfted or els it wyl hurt y ^e stomack and infect the face with little spottes or pimples. With Beates, sayth Hyppo­crates, it is good to wash, or clense the mouth of the matrix: with Honye and Uinegar tempered, it healeth the Shyngles. This Garden Atriplex is good for medycine: but the wyld Atriplex, To die the hayre. or golden Arage is onely good to chaūge the colour, and make the hayre yellow, with Barbery barkes, and the Flow­ers of Calendula, called y ^e Marigold. And thus I end of Atriplex, called Arage or Chrysolochanon, or the golden herbe. Chrysolocha­non.

[Page]What then of Germander, called Quercula minor, the little Oxe?

Quercula minor the little Oke, or Germander. IT is called Quercula minor, bicause the leaues thereof be like vn­to Oken leaues, although very small: It is euen so named Cha­maedris, of a very lowe Oke of the grounde, it is named Serrata, for it was first founde by this Germander is cōmonly known, and dyeth not in Winter, the flowers be Purple. And this wyll grow in rocky places of his owne nature, although plenty growe in Gar­dens: it flowrisheth in Iuly, it is hoat & dry, sayth Galen, in the third degree. But my frende Marcellus, vnderstand this, that although Galen sayth so, yet for all that, the herbes here in England, be not so hoat of nature, as they be in the hoat coūtrey of Greece, A good note of the nature of herbes. where as Galen was borne, therefore, obserue the Climate and Region, and then you shall do very well. Nowe to thys herbe, which is scant so hoate and dry, Dioscorides affirmeth that this herbe greene or dry, sodden in Wyne or Water, and so drunke, hath all these ver­tues. It helpeth conuulsions, coughes, hardnes of the splene, stopping of vrine, Dropses, and forceth the termes to passe. And in the tyme of perill, y ^e Midwyfe may giue it to the Woman, whose childe is dead, to come forth. Drunke with Uineger, it doth rebate the swelling of the Lyuer, and pre­uayleth agaynst poyson. And drunke wyth good Wyne, and pilles of thys herbe, wyth Hony, and then swallowed it will purge sores and vlcers. It openeth the stopping of the ioyntes, and dryeth grosse humours, thus sayth Galen, Many good ve [...]tues of Germander. Theophrastus affirmeth that the leaues stamped with Oyle, will heale woundes: and the seedes drawe forth yellowe choller, being drunke, and be good for the eyes. The Iuyce of the leaues, tempered with cleane oyle O­life, wyll clense the dimnes of th [...] sore eyen, sayeth Plinie: and these be goodly vertues, which God hath giuen to this herbe, my friend Marcellus.

What is Psyllium.

Psyllium cal­led Flewort. PSyllium is called Fleawort, bicause the seede is like to Flees, black & hard, which Flees in the North countrey, be called Loppes: or els as some do say, whereas this herbe is cast greene into any house, no Fleas will remayne there. It groweth in dry places vnsowen, the seede is colde in the seconde degree: wyth Oyle of Roses, Uinegar and this seede stamped together, is good to anoynt the ioyntes, swelling, & hoat burning paynes in the forehead. For paines in the head com­ming of heate. or burning. This herbe or seede, broken in a Leadden morter, with hogges grease, is good to to heale a foule, burning, rotten vl­cer or sore. The Iuyce thereof wyth Hony, dropped into the eare, will kyll Wormes, or any Flea cropen therein: and thus mutch affyrme Dioscorides, and Plinie, of this hearbe.

WHat say you of Foxe Gloues, commōly y ^e Finger flowers: the flow­ers of some be yellow, Digitales. & there be of them Carnation in colour? Thus I know them by name and colour: but no furder, I can say of them.

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THou sayest well, I neede no further description of them: Yellowe and Purple Fingers. Bitter herbes be hoat & dry. it groweth in mountaines, shadow, or rocky places. It is bitter, and therefore it must needes be hoat and dry, for Galen lib. iiii. de simplic. medi. facul. cap. xvij. those herbes sayth he, which be bitter of tast, do clense and purge and do cut away grosse matter in y ^e vaines. Therfore with bitter things y ^e termes menstrual, and the fylth from the breast, and lunges be clensed, what more? To clense the stomache. This herbe wyl do all, or asmutch as Gencian wyll do: in whose place, this herbe called yellow or Purple fyngers, is vsed: these be Galen his words of this herbe.

ALthough you haue shewed me the nature of common Gardein Mints I had almost forgotten Calamyntes, Organ, and Mariarum I pray you shew me some thyngs of them.

IT is called Calaminte, the profytable Minte, Calamintha Montana Nepeta. Pulegium. Siluestre. the vertue thereof causeth Serpents to flye from it: mutch of thys Calamynte doth grow vppon Mountaynes, and is called Calamintha Mon­tana. An other kynd is called Nepeta, or Neppe of the garden: an other is Pulegium Siluestre, the wyld Pulyall roiall of the Wood, with great leaues than Peneroial, called Pulyall, growyng in Woodes, or moyst places. And Calaminte, is of essence, Diosco. lib. 3 [...] Capi. 36. or beyng hoat & dry in the third degree: the rootes bee of none effect: or profit, but the leaues be very hoate, and eger to tast vpon. The vertues of Calaminte be many, as against poysō and stingyng of Serpents, either drunke, or anoynted: agaynst the stran­gurie, or the stoppyng of vryne. or stone, conuulcions, paynes in the stomack Orthopnaea, whych is a disease, Orthopnaea difficulty of wynde. Tormina fretting of the Gutts. that a man can not take his breath but hol­ding his necke vpryght: Tormina, or paines of the guts, stopping of y ^e termes in women: tercians, and the kyngs euyll. All these be clensed, opened, and healed, by, and through Calamintes. drunke in wine: the pouder and sirupe haue the like vertues, the water therof is but weake, except to stop vomits What more of this herb, it wyll kyll great wormes, drunk with Salte and Hony: euen so it wil Ascarides, whych be lyttle round wormes, breedynge in the long guttes of chyldren. Who so hath Elephanticus morbus, which is a Le­prie, bred of melancholy with swelled flesh, and black spottes, and vse to eate Calamintes sodden, or raw, and then drynke the iuice in Wha [...]e, shalbe hea­led of the same leprosie. This sodden in wine, doth take away blew, or black spottes from the skin, made by a stripe of hand, wand, or rod, or stumblyng against ones fyst in the darke, applyed to the same stripe: a playster made thereof, or hoate layed vppon the huckle Bones, wyll asswage the payne of Sciatica, and it wyll draw downe humours. The iuice wyll kyl wormes that be in the eare. Galen doth wryte very mutch of Calaminte. The oyle of Calamintes doth warme the body, & is good against the Sciatica. lib. vij. simplicium medicamen. agreeyng with Dioscorides, and doth mutch commend the Oyle of the same, to anoynt the body, saying: it wyll enter quickly, and that it is a present remedy for the Sciatica. And through the bytternes of the same, [Page] it wyll skoure, and clense the yellow Iaundice. and open the Galle. And to conclude, the Mountayne Minte with the Purple flowers, hauing lea­ues like to Ocimum, Organ. called Basill, Nipotellae, called Neppe, is one of the Cala­mintes. So is an other called S. Marie Mint, with flowers like to Cha­mom [...]ll. Dioscor. lib. 3 C [...]p. xxviii.xxix.xxx.viii. Some there be, that do take Organ, to be a kynde of Calamyntes: but it is not so, for Organ is a proper herbe of it selfe, in name and nature. And is distinguished in fower bye names. Heracleoticum, Onitis, Syluestre, and Tragoriganum, these bee sweete herbes: Goates and other beasts loue to feede of them. Some of them haue leaues like Hisope, but broader: Some lyke Sauerye, called Satureia, of increasyng of seede, whych Sauorye is neare kin in nature to Organ, Sauerie. Maioram so is Amaracus, called Maioram, or Sampsuchum. These all be herbes very sweete, wholsome, and pleasaunt, good to mankynde, and e­nemies to venome, & poyson of corrupted wormes or Serpents: and of na­ture be hoat and dry in the thyrd degree. These herbes wyll warme all the body, eyther in bath, or to be anoynted wyth the Oyle, agaynst all cold sycke­nesses, or rigours of tremblyng. These herbes sodden greene in broth, or the pouder simply of them put into the same, or els drunke in Wyne, or the Si­rupe thereof, wyl do thus, as followeth. Help the dulnesse of syght: prouoke neesyng, Against euill sight▪ Saue­rie preuaileth. eyther in oyle or pouder: open y ^e raynes: prouoke vryne: force termes menstruall: kyll wormes in the belly: Cleanse grosse fleume from the Sto­macke: make good digestion: helpe the greene sycknesse, nothyng better for melancholy, and paynes in the left syde. Good for the collike, palsye, stinkyng breath, shortnesse of wynd, or vomytes, or swellyng with dropsy: There is a forgetful sycknes, called Lethargus or Veternus, which is placed in the head, in whych the power of reason is contayned, through a sicknes of fleume. as a quotidian not purged, or els of Peripneumonia, which is a sicknes of y ^e lungs. When through heat, Lethargus helped with herbes, hoate and dry in the third degree. flegme is melted, or made thin eftsones, drawen to the head: the best remedy is then, to purge the head, wyth Hierae simplicis. ℥i.ss. & to weare a garland, or cloth full of these herbs, of Organum Maiorum, or Sa­uerie. and health will folow: and thus I do end of them.

What is Ormyn, Which we do call Clarie, Gallitricum?

ORmin hath stalkes fower square, leaues grosser than Horhound. flow­ers in forme like the Archangel: but purple coloured, growyng aboute the stalke, Orminum Ormyn. Or Clarie. with black seedes in the Cods. This herbe is hoat and dry: Dioscorides sayth, the seede drunke with wyne, wyl moue Venus, with Honye it will cleanse the bloudy spottes in the eye, this affirme also Paulus and Pli­nie: and it is good for to clense the whites in women, sodden wyth Planten in red wine and drunke: Clarie good for women. stamped and put to a prick, it wyl draw it forth of the flesh.

WHat is the vertue of wyld Basil, called Ocimastrum, hauing stalkes fo­wer square: flowers Purple, seedes blacke, and leaues lyke vnto the kyng of herbes, Ocimastrum wyld Basill for sweetenes called Basill.

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THis groweth in sondry places, and florisheth in October: bearinge the Seedes and Cods, is hot and drye of nature wyth Bytternes. The seede sodden in Wyne and drunke warme, helpeth the byting of Serpentes, and drunke in wyne, with Mirrhe and Pepper, it healeth the Sciatica, saith Dioscorides.

What is the vertue of wyld water Peper, an herbe so named

IT is called Hidropiper, because it groweth in water, Hydropiper water pepe [...] & the tast therof burneth in the mouth, as the spice Peper doth. It hath a very tough stalke, leaues lyke Myntes but broader, thynner, and whyter, the Seedes growe by the Leaues vppon slender Braunches, it florisheth in August. It is hoat and drye, Dioscorides lib. 2. cap. 155. Gal. lib. 7 Simp. medic. not so muche as Peper Dioscorides sayth, this herbe with the seede stamped, an­noynt the blacke spot, or hard knot through a strype therewyth, and it shall be healed. If this seede bee dryed and beaten vnto pouder mingled with Salt, it is good to eate with meate, or to season flesh. Hydropipe one hath lea­ues like Min­tes: the other is Persicario with leaues lyke Peches. and wil serue in the place of Peper. The roote therof is good for nothing: of this herbe be two kyndes, the one hauyng leaues like mintes: of the seconde speaketh Matthiolus saying he taketh it to be Persicaria. which hath Leaues lyke Peaches, with coloure spotted, somewhat lyke Puke, of which Persicaria. I haue spoken of before.

What be the vertues of Aristolochia rotunda, and Longa

THis Herbe is good to quicken the tyme of Child byrth, Aristolochia Rotunda Longa Clematis. Dioscot. lib. 3. Cap. 155.. and expulse the secondes, whereof there bee three kyndes: one round w ^t leaues like Iuie, but rounder, w ^t round rotes: frō which herbe commeth a pleasaunte sharpe sauor whyte flo­wers vpon pretty redde knoppes, this is Rotunda, or roūd, y ^e Female: an other is called Longa, or long with long rootes and leaues, smal braūches, purple flowers, and stinking, whē it doth grow: and is of the fashion of a Peare. Both of theym haue berryes lyke Capers very bitter, of colour lyke Boxe, and do stinke. Galen. lib. vij Simplic. medic. Now to the thirde whiche is sweete hauing smale rootes and flowers like Rue or herbe grace. The roūd roote is the best in medecine, as salue, pouder, & Oyle. The fume or smoke therof put vnder beddes, or the cradels of young children, is very wholesom & putteth away ayre of infection: this herbe is most bitter & somwhat sharp hoat and drye in the second degre. This herbe hath vertues to incarnat vl­cers and woundes, with clensyng and mundifyinge theym: and will exte­nuate and make thin Grosse humour, and knitteth. The roote or curnelles therof, dryed and beaten into pouder with Peper and Myre mingled togeather, [Page] is wholesome to rubbe the gummes and teeth, when they be foule & cankred. The pouder is good to takeaway ded flesh, to be put into a fistula, to clense it: euen so it wil helpe the conduite of the vryne, conueyghed in wyth a syrynge or instrumente when it is corrupted with burninge heate, or vlcered: a foment Oyle and wyne, and this roote wil bring forth a yong chylde. Gentian Aristolochia, and Hony, make a holsome confectiō, for a stin­kyng breath. Aristolochia helpeth Can­kers and bur­ninges. Many good vertues of Aristolochia. The second ii. kyndes sayth Plinie, drunke with wyne, or wa­ter, be good to be geuen them, which haue the cramp, or haue fallen down from some high place, beyng sore brused. The seede drunke, is good agaynst the plurisy and wormes, w ^t rosen and waxe, this roote, or rootes, in pouder, withdraw cornes from the feete, and also draw pryckes, needles, & arrowe heads from the Fleshe. With vineger, this pouder wil, heale a greene, woūd: it is drunke agaynst the fallyng sicknes, and shortnes of wynde. And this roote must be gathered in April.

VUhat is the vertue of that wylde clyminge Uine, with the greate whyght roote, stinkyng berries, red of Colour, and leaues lyke vnto Hoppes, or wild Fyges?

THis is a hedge weede in euery place commonly growing, and creepeth about busshes, Brionia vitis alba, or the wyld tunning Uine. braunches, boughes and trees it florisheth vntil Haruest the braunches be somewhat bitter and sharpe, & stopping of nature. The roote doth drye with moderate warmes, in the second degre, it hath ver­tue to clense skoure with maturation or rypenes. To heale sores with Brionia. The roote of this Brion, or the pouder of y ^e rotes, with Smalage. Mallowes, cleane Hony. Flaxeseede in pouder, and Barly meale cle­ane Terebinthin, and a little whyte wyne sodden softlye together, maketh a medecine to heale Fellons and vncomes withal. or pushes. This herbe beyng yonge and tender, may be eaten as Asparagus may bee, sayth Dioscorides, for it moueth or prouoketh the belly and vryne, the leaues, fruite and rootes be sharpe, and wil byte the toung, if you tast of them. Therfore they wil stampe them with Salt, to heale Cankers, fylthe in handes or feete, or Legges, &c. as sores, foule pushes. &c. This roote wil clense all the fylth from the body, To clense the face with Brionia. and blacke spottes, blaynes, blisters, shingles, pimpels called good Ale pearles, tempered with the Pouder of Fenegreeke and the Oyle of Tartar. Or els Bryona sodden in whyte wyne, from a quarte to a pynt, then strayne the same, puttyng some Champhere▪ and washe the infected face euery Nighte with a Sponge, Briomia defendeth poyson. and lette it dry in. The roo­tes pressed in the Sprynge, and the Iuice Dronke wyth sweete water doth purge fleum: dronke dayly in the morning with wyne or Ale, wel sodden, they helpe the fallyng euil, and vertigo Two vnces dronke are good agaynst the poyson of Serpents, or venomous drynk. But yet it wil kil a yong child, in the mothers wombe. Mary, if the child be dead, by anye casualty in y ^e belly, thē it wil bryng it forth by the way of a foment, or aplica­tion, [Page 50] by iniection into the mouth of the Matrixe. The berryes of this bro­ken, do helpe to clense scurfe, and fylthy Leprosy from the skinne. If nur­ces do kneede their Wheat meale, Brionia. encreaseth Milke with the iuice of the Bryon beryes and bake it in breade, if they eate the same breade, it wil increase milke in their brest. But to vse it much, excepte cause of infyrmity moue the pacient, it is hurtful for memory: it helpeth the lunges, Liuer, and splene to be dronke, and draweth forth pryckes, & healeth woūds.

What is Pellitory of Spayne good for?

THe flower thereof, put into the nose, Sternumenta­ria Pyre [...]hrum▪ Ptermic Pellitorie wil prouoke much nesyng: and therfore it is called Ptermica, it hath Flowers lyke Chamomel, braunches much like Sothernwood, It wil grow in hard stony places, the roote must be digged in the ende of Haruest: it is hote and drye in the thyrde degre and in the beginning of the fourth, specially if it be dryed. The leaues with the flowers stamped togeather, Dioscoridesi lib. 3. cap. 71 wil make a good oynt­mente to take awaye Markes made with strypes, causynge blewe or blacke spottes in the face or any part of the body. The rootes haue vertue to draw fylth and cold humour from the corrupt payned teeth, sayth Galen lib vij. simplicium medic. But if the sayd rootes be fyrst steeped in strong Uineger and beaten in a morter, and small round pilles made of them, Pellitorie hath vertu to help the teeth. putting them into the mouth, they wil draw much fylth from the paller of the mouth and gummes, and fynally ease the tooth ache. Or the sayd rootes or iuice of thē sodden in Oyle, wil put away a cold Feuer, Pellitorie wil take a­way a colde Feuer. if the body be well annoynted therwith agaynst a Feuer before the fyt do come, eyther in tertian or quar­ten. And it is a good oyle for a cold stomacke, that is swelled: and thus I do ende of Pellitory.

VHat vertue is in a wede which we cal Goosegrasse, some people cal­it Hare weede? It groweth it hedges, in hath rough leaues, and ber­ries whych berryes hang by couples, and wil cleaue to men or wo­mens clothes, and therfore some do cal it cleuer grasse, with white flowers, whyte round seedes, lyke nauelles.

YOu haue rightly described this herbe, Philanthropos A perine com­monly called goosegrasse, & hareweede. Dioscor. lib. 3. cap. lxxxviij which in deede bea­reth al those names amōg the people: it is called Philanthropos, for it loueth to hang or garment, and goe with menne. This is a name of propertie, y ^e very true name is Aparine, it is drye and clensyng: and this herbe and seede dronke in wyne, preuayleth agaynst stinginge of venemous things: and the iuice distilled in the eare, helpeth them, that cannot wel heare, This herbe tempered wyth fresh Swynes grease, healeth Struma, or paynes in the throte, applyed to the same place: the iuice therof sayth Plinie stoppeth blood in a fresh wounde, and healeth the same.

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[...] sondry [...] of [...] this viscum. WHat is the vertue of Mislen, growing vpon Thornes, Pere­trees, & Okes, wherof I haue seene great plenty growing in the countrye of Suffolke, with many goodly herbes and flowers: [...] as in these most auncient Parkes of Framingham Kelshal, Nettlestede, Lethringham, Parham, Somet, He­ningham▪ Westwood, Huntingfeeld, Henham, little Glen­ham, and Benhal &c. These Parkes be old neighbors, God send them con­tinual frendship with eche other in vnity, for where as vnity is broken, the Parke pale wil not hold, but fal into sodayn ruine and decay, and the Dere wil scatter.

I Know the places which you haue named right well. Further­more, I commend your good zeale that you beare to that worthy country: wishing their continual vnity and concord. I desire the same. For they be people of no lesse ciuility then of most aū ­cient good fame and worship: Uery gentle men spring not by extorti­on▪ but by tru seruing theire Princes, and liuing of thei [...] own, hurtinge not their poor neighbor, pre­ferring the fa­uoure of the c [...]untry be­fore lucre. which is their chiefe treasure descended from houses of fame, worthy of memory, I meane no parkes, but people, nor theym which haue crept vnder a goose wyng, drawing forth a bastarde sworde no longer thē a wryting pen, fyghtyng their combate vppon the backsyde of a shete of pa­per, to the hurte of many perhaps, and profyte of none, but to theimselues onely. But of them speake I▪ whose blood hath bene shed in the iust quarel of their Prynces: whose houses be builded vppon hard rockes, of true got­ten goodes: whose dores be open, keping hospitality according to their cal­lyng, who with the loue of the country gard themselues, and with iustice defendeth causes of the pore. These be they which be worthy of laud, that thus feareth god: these be the right gentlemen, otherwyse not. Nowe to our matter, from which we a little haue digressed. For this Mislen, whiche is called in Latine Viscum, Dioscor. lib. 3. Cap. lxxx.vij Mislen healeth many pe­rtilous sores. which is hoat & tart, hauing y ^e cōplexion of ayre & water. This herbe with Rosen and Waxe boyled together, wil make a me­decine to mollifye, dissolue, draw forth swellyng cur [...]els, distilled of foule humours, gatheryng behynd the eares: or any foule push, fester, or fellon, in any other place of the body: tempered w ^t Rosen, it healeth an old vlcer. Take the berries of this Mislen, Misteltow or Mislen wil make a good ryping plaster and heale cornes Galen. lib. 6. Simplic. medic. put thereunto the pouder of Ieat, make it warm apply it to the left syde vppon Leather when y ^e spleene swelleth, and it will helpe it. Temper it with Auripigmentum. or vnsleaked Lime, and it wil draw foorth cornes. This Mislen sayth Galen is one of them, which after the first puttinge to in any medecine wil not be hot but requireth a tyme, by little & litle, as Thapsia doth: & this mislen groweth of no seede, nor wil grow vp­pon the earth, but vpon the tree through the dounge of byrdes that syttte vppon them by night, which by little and little, breaketh through the barks of the tree, into the sappe: frō whence at length this Viscum doth spryng and groweth greene in Wynter, when the poore naked tree seemeth withred and ded Virgil obseruing the nature thereof. in the Aenedos. liber. vj. sayeth thus of it.

Plinie the xvi. booke the last chapter, sayth there be certayne plantes, Misteltow is not natural in kinde but [...] basterd braūch growing vp­pon some o­ther tree. which cannot be engendred, or bred vppon the earth: for whom nature hath prepa­red, to take their begynnyng and nutriment of trees. For when they haue no places of their owne, then they lyue vppon other, as this Viscum or Mis­teltow is wont. But now by the way of protestation. What benefyt hath that tree, vpon whom this Misteltow doth grow? No more than anye member of the body, vpon whom a Canker is placed: it will at length des­stroy altogeather, except it be pulled frō the tree, vnles it be a mighty tree, stronge and full of humour, with plentiful increment, Euen so, into what realme or cōmon wealth, Country, Borough, or Cittye, that vnnaturall straungers, or forriners, be planted, placed, or as they say, made naylfaste: Misteltow is like a stranger that waxeth [...]ych and flori­sheth by the hurt and losse of a freeborne man of his na­tural country or citty. forthwith they waxe hygh, I meane welthy, lusty, and greene in Winter: they lack nothing in the tyme of dearth and miserye. When as the naturall people, vppon whom they haue their gayne profyte, tast of sore laboure, lacke, losse, honger, and pouerty. And thus I doo conclude, bothe of miserye, and Mistleden, remembryng Plinies woordes in the foresayd Chapiter: Namque cum suam sedem non habeant, in aliena viuunt, sicut Viscum.

VUhat vertue is in Ebulus, called walwort, whiche in Suffolke they call Danes weede: it groweth like Eldren, which leaues be like Walnut leaues, and berryes in the top?

THis herbe is of the nature of Eldren, called Sambucus, Sambucus Ebulus. Eld [...]r [...]e and walewoorte. of one Sambix, which fyrst found out the vertue of this Eldren: and of nature is hoat and dry, resolueth, and dryeth moyst sores & vlcers, but is very hurtful to the stomacke. Dioscor. lib. 4. Cap. Clxviij. Notwithstan­dyng the tender leaues sodden, and eaten lyke a sallet, purge fleume and choller. And it is good to heale the dropsye, Walewort maketh medecine for the gout, & paynes in the ioyntes and doth mollify the mouth of the matrixe, to make a fomente therw ^t. The iuice of this Ebulus or the berryes stamped with fresh Grease, and Barly meale, wil clense deepe rotten sores, and coole the burning of a Goute, and pai­nes in the ioyntes. Paulus Aegineta sayth, these ii. kynds of Elders, do glew and heale: and either eaten or drunke do cast forth water by the belly, and nether partes.

What is the vertue of Epithimum?

THis Herbe doth wrappe and fold about Tyme, Eythymum. Diosco. lib. 4. Cap. 172. Galen. lib. 6 Sim. medica. and is therfore so called: the flower is vsed much in medecine, and is hoat and drye in the third degre, And purgeth Melancholy, Fleum, and grosse humours from the head, and doth comfort the harte. Cassutha is hoat in the fyrst, and [Page] dry in the second degree, and is of greate vertue to open the Gall, clense the raynes, deminish the Spleene. It purgeth, skowreth, fleume and Chol­ler, and healeth y ^e Iaundice: drunke in decoctions, potions, Syruppes. &c. And this Cassutha groweth grosser, Epithymum. & Cas [...]utha hel­peth the Liuer Gal & spleene. and larger than Epithimum with white flowers, and no rootes: but groweth vppon other herbes, as Paritorye, young Flaxe, and other Plantes, as Plinie lib. xvj▪ Cap vltimo ▪ wryteth.

What say you of Vngula Caballina or Tussilago?

IT is called Vngula Caballina, y ^t is horshoue, because no herbe is liker: but the Greekes call it Bechion, which is Tussilago, y ^t is, to help y ^e cough. It is cōmonly known, some cal it clot leaues: whyte on the one syde, Vngula Ca­b [...]llina. Horsehoue. and greene on the othersyde. And gro­weth nere waters, and in fallow landes: the flowers florishe in Maye onlye, but the leaues al the Somer, and of nature be colde and moyst. These leaues stamped and strayned, the iuice wil heale shingles, skal­dinges, burninges, and hote inflamations. Dioscorides, Galen and Plinie af­fyrme, Diosco. lib. 3. cap. 10 [...]. Galer. lib. vi. Sim. medica. that these leaues and rootes, beeing dryed and cast vppon the coales and so to receiue the smoke therof through a reede or Trunk into y ^e mouth▪ wil clense the Lunges, and helpe them, and quickly deliuer them from olde rot [...]es, and cold coughes.

Apiastrum.What is Apiastrum?

APiastrum or Melissa which we name Balme: be of two kinds, garden, and feelde. Bees loue this herbe aboue al other, and it is called the Bees, or Hony herbe: and is drye in the fyrst, and warme in the second degree. Melissa Balme. Dioscor. lib. 3. Cap. [...]01. Auecennae in libro medicin. The iuice of this herbe, healeth stinging of Bees, Serpents, mad dogges, and woūds, dronke in wyne, and clenseth also the terms menstrual. No­thing doth more comfort the harte, then this herbe in decoction, or the wa­ter thereof: Burrage water, and syne Muske sodden in a cleane vessell and dronke when the hart is weake, or in a great Hicker, thys herbe wil clense the Lunges, and stop the bloody flixe, and paynes of the throat called An­gina made in a warme plaster. Galen lib. 7. Simpli medica­men. It kepeth vomits, and helpeth collike dronk in wyne: Balme & Nuttes, stamped with Hony, helpe to lighten the Dull blemished darke iyen, and the sight. It is like Horhounde sayth Galen.

What is Carui, which we do cal Careawayes?

THis fyne smal seede cōmeth from the country of Cari in Asia which is y ^e place, Caros. where as they grow very plentifully: this Cary seede, is hoat and drye in the third degre. Dioscor. lib. 3 Cap. 57. Galen. lib. 7. Sim. medica. Dioscorides sayth, this is the vertue of the seede, pleasaunt to the mouth, and profitable to the stomacke, it prouoketh vryne, & helpeth digestion, it is good in medecines, and of the nature of A­nisseedes: [Page 52] the rootes be yellow and to eate vppon be better than the Past nippe. The seede doth not only extinguishe hote swelling and moue vryne: but the plante also, sayeth Galen: the decoction of Cary wyne, is beste to bee dronke to clense the raynes.

What is Cartafilago

CArtafilago hath red stalkes two cubites long, and hollow long lea­ues like Sallow, with small teeth lyke a sawe, about them yellow flowers, many Rootes, and red without: it florisheth in August, Cartafilago [...]ulnararia. Herba. it is dry, stoppyng, and byndynge. This herbe is equall to the best healinge wounde herbe: and it wil incarnate and heale the sayd wound, and clense y ^e same stamped and put into it. You may drye this herbe and make pouder therof, and cast it into a fresh wounde, and it wil heale speedelye. A goodly. wound herbe. What is better for a fystula? Proue it I pray you.

What is Grummel seede?

GRana solis, Millium solis, is comonlye knowen, these seedes be good to be fynely beaten in pouder, and drunke, Grana Solis. to clense the raynes and cause vryne to passe, that is stopped: Fenel, Parselye, and this seede broken in whyte wyne, and let it stand all one night, puttyng some Sene leaues to the same, and in the morning seeth this in a stone vessel, put in Sugar then strayne it, and drynk the same: To c [...]use v­ryne to passe plentifully. it wil purge fleume, choller, and open y ^e raynes and bladder, and force forth vryne most plentifully.

What is the vertue of Cichory?

THis Herbe is called in Greeke Serin, in Latine Intybum, whereo [...] are twoo kyndes, the wyld and tame, Sponsa Soli [...]. Intybus. Endiuia. Cichory. these be the names of Endiue and Cichory, that with broader lea­ues, somwhat lyke Beates, is Endiue. The Seconde wyth Iagged Leaues, lyke vnto Dandelyon, is Cichorye: these haue harde stalkes with trim blewe flo­wers lyke hats, some haue whyte flowers. Dioscr. lib. 3. Cap. Cxxv. These be cold and drye in the second degree: the Endiue is more cold then the Cichorye, & be both of a restringing, or stopping, bynding nature. These herbes greene, both rootes and leaues, hath vertue to coole the hoat burning of the liuer, the stoppyng of the gall, the yellow Iaundice, the heat of the harte, the lack of sleepe, the stoppyng of vryne, hoat burning feuers, beyng fyrst digested. The syrupe therof is excellent good agaynst the sayd sicknesses: the Water cannot be missed in all potions & coolynges, or purgyng drynkes, to purge mankynd withal. The waters of Endiue, Planten, Roses, and stylled Mylke, with fyne Bole Armoniake, or seefe without Opium, is good to be cast with a Syryng into the fylthy, burnt swelled, or corrupted yardes, or Conduictes, of vncleane persones.

[Page]For the heate of the liuer. R. Endiue or Cichory, whytes of Egges, Barly [...] flower, A very good medecine for the vlcer in the yarde. Sanders, cleane young fresh swynes grease, the oyle of Roses, Uio­lets, and water Lillies, wrought togeather in a Leaden morter, and apply­ed to the syde, spread vppon leather. This plaster is very good, agaynst the hoat burning gout in the feete, A plaster for the liuer and goute. or shingles, or burninge in any parte of the body. Dandelion is of the same vertue.

What is that roote Napus called the Naue?

IT is called Napus Bunias, because of his own nature, it groweth great and round, wherof bee two kyndes: one beareth leaues lyke Rapes, The other lyke Rocket, but greatter, and hath yel­low flowers, the Seedes growe in coddes, and of Nature be hoat in the second degre. The rootes of Napee increase wynd, and lesse norishe then Rapes, the sedes be good in many medecines, and pre­uayle against poyson. The rootes sodden and preserued in salt, be wholesom to eate vppon: in Egypt the people make much of this herbe.

What say you of Rapes.

THis Rape is a rural common roote, and no lesse knowen than common, of two kyndes: the tame hath leaues lyke Radix, and yellow flowers. The other hath blew flowers and smale sharpe leaues, Napus. Bunias. in the length of a fynger, with smal teeth lyke a Saw, roūd about the said leafe. The garden greate Rape doth noryshe, inflate, ingender, loose or weake flesh, and moueth carnall lust. The roote sodden, & warme applyed, helpeth a kibed heele, and easeth the gout, make this Roote hollow, put therin oyle of Roses and Waxe, then rost it in hoat Ashes, & this wil heale kybes, which be deepely rotten or festered within the heele. Seeth Asparagus in the decoction of Rapes and drink the same to purge the blader, Goodly ver­tues of rapes. clense the raynes, and force vryne. The seede of Rapes is good in manye medecines, Plini. lib. 17. cap. xiij. and in Triacle, and expulceth poyson: wilde Rapes bee putte in medecines, to clense the face, as with Lupines, beene m [...]ale. &c. Plinie saith, the seede beyng sowen, within thre moneths following, it wil bee a greate roote: but it is very hard in decoction it encreaseth wynde and seede, sayeth Gal. lib. vi. Simplicium Medicamentorum. There is great plenty of the oyle ther­of made in England, as in Marsland nere to Lin. &c, Uery profitable to our common wealth.

What is the roote called Rhoyda?

ROyda is a goodly roote, wherof is great plenty in Macedonia, & now in many places of Germanye, growyng in gardens, and is hote & drye in the second degree: it smelleth much lyke a Rose and these rootes stamped, & made warme with oyle of Roses applyed to y ^e forhead, wil as­swage [Page 53] the griefe, burning heat, lack of sleepe, & frensye, that mankynd doth through weaknes fal in to. This herbe wil grow in England also, Roid [...] helpeth the dead. if idle­nes were not the let.

What is the roote called Doronike

IT is a precious roote, growyng in Egipt, and is called Doro­nicus. Actuarius calleth it Carnabadium: it hath many knottes, Doronicu [...]. Alexandrie Doronicus do helpe dig [...] ­stion. & is no bygger than a mans fynger, and is put into confection, for lacke of perfect digestion, and agaynst poyson, there is no berter Roote than this. Ruellius supposeth it to bee that, whiche the Greekes cal Arnabo.

What is the good of Liquorice rootes

LIquoryce called Glycerrhiza of the sweetnes, Liquorice. groweth greate plenty in hoate Countryes. Euen so there is much here in England, the yellower and moyster, the better: it is sweete, warme and moyst of nature. Liquorice is wholesome agaynste the exasperation, Dioscorides. Liquorice helpeth the lunges. & woundes. or sharpnes in Arteries, to byte vppon this roote, or keepe it in the mouth, for that purpose. For the burninge heat In the stomacke, and sycknes of the Lunges, spleene, and olde rotten cough, Scabbes in the bladder, and sorenes in the raynes, drunke in pocions or broken: Liquorice healeth woundes, if it be annoynted therewith. The pouder therof put into the eye, wil helpe Pterygius, which is a little skynne growing from the corner, coueryng the syght. Liquorice, Wyne & Honye, healeth both woundes, without and within also

I would as gladly learne the vertue of Radish rootes for medecine as I haue bene desyrous to feede of them with meate.

Fyrst I shal declare vnto you the name thereof, it is properlye called Raphanus because it Spryngeth soddaynelye, and Ra­dix is a name common to all Rootes, Rapha [...]u [...] ▪ Radix. Radishe. But this Radish bea­reth the chiefename among other rootes: and therfore it is called Radix. Plinie maketh mention of Radish rootes lib. xix. cap 5. that were as hyg as yong infante children. Of Radish rootes there be no smale store growing about the famous citty of London: they be more plentifull then profytable, and more noysome, then nourishinge to mannes nature, ingenderyng of wynde, enemy to the stomacke, saith Dioscorides. These be nombred rather amōg rootes vsed for meat, thā accōpted of perfit whol­som nutriment: good to be eaten before meate, Diosco. lib. 2. cap. 106. to vomit and clense the sto­macke. But wholesome in the end of meales, for cholericke stomackes, a little at once, to help digestion▪ and to distribute the meate: but Galen affyr­meth, that tender yong Radish with Uineger, is good sauce in the begyn­nynge of Meales, to loose the bellye.

[Page]For the playne people do eate these rootes with bread, taught by nature, & not by arte: Gal. lib. 2. de ali [...]n ento [...]m faculratibus. And so is Organ beyng greene, Cresses, Tyme, Sauery, Pene­royall, Germander, Mintes, Calamintes, Paritory, and Rocket. These herbes and this roote, be rather eaten of necessitye, then of will and fanta­sy. But sodden and then prepared with sharpe vineger, Suger, and sweet cleare oyle, How to vse Radi [...] rootes are more profitable than crude, raw herbes or rootes. Manye learned and vnlearned, do maruayle, sayth Galen, why men vse to eate them raw after supper, to helpe digestion: who aunswereth, long custom hath so taught them. Notwithstanding, the example of such is not to bee followed without peril or hurt. Plinie affyrmeth, that Raddyshe, sodden in wine, drink that wyne in the morning, and it wil deminishe, and cast forth the stone, o­pen the gall, deminish the splene, moue Uenus, clense spottes and bruses made in the skyn by some strype. Hyppocrates saith that if women chafe their heddes, Radix helpeth the belly. with Raddysh rootes, the hayre wil fal, and applied to the Nauel of women, it wil quickly asswage the torment of the belly and Matrix. The iuice wil h [...]lpe any payne within the eare, dropped in warme: with manye mo vertues vsed in medecine, although abused in meates, throughe igno­rance, in eating them so raw, and out of tyme. Of nature, Garden radishe is drye in the second and hoat in the thyrd degree. The wild Radish is hot­ter and dryer of nature: the seede is good in medecine to clense vryne, and Radix loueth to growe in fatte groundes.

What of Pastnippe▪

Pastnips their rootes. THey be called Pastinacae a Pascendo, that is of Fedyng, or no­ryshing, or warming nature: they be pleasante in tast, and moue Venus, wherof be wild growing in stony places▪ but the best are sowen in Gardens, and of nature be hoat and clensyng, The seedes of wild Pastnips dronke will pro­uoke termes menstruall and vryne. heale dropsye and Pluritici, and are good agaynst venome, and stinginge of Serpentes, and helpe conception. But this Herbe applyed into the Matrix, by the hande of the mydwyfe. Draweth forth the dead Childe, stamped with Honye put vp­pon a spreading vlcer, Diosco. lib. 3 Cap. lii. Gal. lib vij. Sim. medica. it is healed thereby. Those of the Garden are more apt in meate then the wyld: and the sayd wyld are more affectuall in mede­cine: one of these parsenips is called yellow Caret, the other a Rape.

What is the Sicer, or sweete white Carret good for?

Dioscor. lib. 2. cap. 107, Gal. lib. 8. Sim. medica.THis roote is commonlye knowen, it is no lesse pleasaunte to the Mouthe, than profitable in meate for the Stomacke: it prouoketh vryne, and helpeth appetite, and is hot in the second degree, [Page 54] And is sōwhat bytter, and is called whyte Pastnip, with yellow flowers, leaued lyke Pimpernel. The seede sodden in wyne and dronke, helpeth the collike, and wynd in the stomack, or hicket, which followeth after vomits or weaknes of the harte.

What say you of Rubarbe?

RHeum Barbaricum, or Rhabarbe, is a noble roote of greate vertue, Rhabarbe and Rhapontike. and doth differ from Rhaponticum, is better in purgynge, in sauor, in sub­staunce, compact and heauy, golden colowred with gray Turkey coloured vaynes. drye and in tast bytter, whereas Rhaponticum is lyghte not heauy, not harde with drynes, but soft with moystnes, not bytter but tart, not compacte, but slender. And therefore Rhabarbe and Rhapontike, The difference betweene Ru­barbe and Rhapontike. bee not both one, as many haue most foolishly affyrmed, then with good argu­mentes truely prooued. And the best Rabarbarium commeth from Troglotide which is a hoat country, in the fardest part of Aphrica beyond Ethiopia, wher as y ^e people to auoyde the extreame heate of the Sunne, From whence Rhabarbe. doth come co [...] are constrayned to inhabite in Caues, vnder the earth, and feede on Dragons Fleshe, which were called Barbarous people, from whence many precious gummes and spices be brought, as Galen. sayth. lib. vj. Simplicium medidicament. and lib. 4. cap. vj. de tuenda sanitate. Ginger is brought sayth hee, from Barbarye, which Plinie in lib. xij. cap xxj. calleth Trogleditis which was Barbarie. And in his xix. booke sayth he. the cause why Cinamon is so scarse and of no plenty: the Ireful Barbarians, do burne the Spice trees. For Myrrhe commeth from thence Galen and Plini, agree this to be that Barbary, calling it Trogloditis Pomponius Mela, a great writer in his first boke of the situation of the world sayth: the vile people, wheras these precious Spyces and rootes do grow, do rather grin like Dogges, than speake like men, and dwel in Holes, and feede on serpentes flesh. And Strabo lib. xv Geographia doth testifye, that all kind of Spice and plantes begin in Arabia Foelix, and in the South part of Inde, For the Sunne taketh lyke force in them, But in Arabia Foelix, The cruelty of the Bar­barians, is to burne the Spice trees and plantes. Pomponius. Mela lib. 3▪ de situ orbis. which is betwene the Seas Arabicum and Persicum, is so Fertile that it hath twoo Haruestes yerely, with all spices, fruites and gummes. wheras the people liue euer in peace, wythout Warre, or walled townes: out of these Pla­ces commeth Rhabarbe to Alexandria, and then to Uenice, & so is dis­persed into many places, to the greate comforte, health, and helpe of man­kynd, to purge choller, and humours, superfluous in the body. What is better to comfort the liuer, to clense the blood, and heale the kynges euil called the Iaundice than Rubarbe. How many goodly Electuaries, Pilles, Sy­rupes, and purgations, haue Rubarbe in them? Uery many. Simple by it selfe, by infusion, how maruailous doth it purge, clense, skower, and expulse venemous fylthe from the bodye? It asswageth timpanies, tertians, dropsies, reconsyleth slepe in dry collerike persōs: by correcting hote choller in thē if it be slysed into cleane Goats whay, Cichory or Buglosse water ℥.iii. and Spicknard ℥.i. standyng al the nyght, in the morning, strained & dronk, it wil clense the Blod, and expulse choller. Mesue affirmeth, that Rhabarbarum excelleth all other Rhaies, both turkish and Indishe.

[Page]It is a purgation hurtles, very gentle, and here is an infusyon thereof most excellent, An excellente infusion of Leonellus Fauentinus to clense the bloode. to clense the Blood: wrytten by a famous man of this time, called Leonellus Fauentinus. R. Rhababarū of the beste ʒ.i. Spicknard. G. iii. make an infusion according to art in the waters of Borage, Uiolets, Sorel or Mal­lowes, as much as shal suffice: after that it hath stand viii howers, strain it hard, and put into the same infusion Diacatholicon ʒ.vi. and Electuarie e Succo Rosarum and, Diaphaenicon any. ʒss. dissolue them in the decoction of Flo­wers and fruites: and this drynk wil very gently purge all foule humours. If any man haue a Bloody flyxe, to helpe the same, or let hym slyce a peece of of Rhabarbe, and tost it hard, and eate the same, or crome it warme into red wyne, and planten water, and drinke it. In Italy there is Rhabarbe, which wil purge choller, but not so good. as I haue descrybed aboue: Rubarbe must be preserued in Waxe or Honny, Flaxe sede, or the seede of Psyllium so it may be kept .iii. or iiii. yeres. Rhapontike, groweth by a famous citty called Pontus, Marcellinus. lib. xij. sayth, it groweth by the riuer Tanais, which seperateth Eu­rope from Asia. Of thys sayth Paulus Aegineta, it is earthly and colde, but the subtilier partes therof, are moist and warme, and but meanly tarte of tast. Therfore it wil helpe fractures, Paulus Aegineta. lib. 7. litera. R conuultions, and shortnes of wynde, and strypes: it hath vertue to direct, to draw foorth, and clense spitting of blood and paynes in the guttes.

Of AgarikeWhat say you of Agarike?

OF Agarike there is the Male, which is compacted roūd, and the female beyng broken, Diosco, lib 3. Cap. j. How to know good Agarike hath directed strayght vaines, and is flat: these Agarikes. be whyte, light compact, thycke togeather, and sweete in the beginning of theire­tast, and then very bitter in thend of the same, with bi­ting on the tounge. It groweth vppon the region of Sarmasia, in a place called Agaria, whereas is a famous riuer and Citty so named. Some saye, that the Roote therof doth growe, and bryng forth this Agarike: other that it groweth like Musroms, on Ceder trees. There groweth Agarike in Italy sayth Plinie. lib xvi. Cap vij. Agaricke clē ­clenseth the guttes, & ex­pulceth rawe humours. But because it is a stranger vnto vs, it shal suffice vs to know the vertue therof. It is hot of nature, and is good agaynst a tourmēt of y ^e guttes, raunesse in the stomacke, aboundance of Flegme, ruptures, dropsies, brewses or falles, stoppyng of vrine, strangury, swelling of y ^e matrix, falling euil, poyson, or stinging of any venemous worm. One vnce steeped in sweet wine or sweet water, & strongly strayned, & dronk before the cōming of a Feuer quotidian putteth it cleane away. Agarike hel­peth y ^e falling sicknes. Dronke with vineger & Suger soddē and then wel strayned, it helpeth Sciatica, and the fallynge euill. This Aga­ricke is no lesse commended then muche vsed in sundry electuaries and pil­les. &c. to the great helpe of Mankynd Galen. lib. vj. Simplicium medidicament ▪ doth remēber Agarike among some kynd of Rootes, and that groweth on [Page 55] the trunke of a tree. Fyrst in tast sweete, then bitter, Agarike pur­geth all the orgaynes of the senses. and so forth hee decla­reth the vertue thereof, to purge the guttes, heale the Iaundice, and open the galle, and discharge all viscous humours: who dyd euer commend any purging thyng, more than Mesue dooth Agarike? sayth he, it clenseth fleume and choller, and al the instruments of the sences, & the braynes, backe bone, muskles, sinewes, lunges, breast, Liuer, Gall, and splene. Democrites sayth, it is a familiar medicine to all the Pryncipall partes of the Body, and from theym, to all the other parts: It purgeth and doth not weaken or decay, a­ny natural or animall vertue, wyth many goodly commēdacions which, he giueth to the same Agarike. And thus I end, giuyng you warning, that it be very fynely beaten, and close kept, and Spicknard put to it in medicine.

What say you of Cassia, and Lignum Aloes, and Cassiafistula.

GALEN maketh mencion of Cassia in lib viij. Simplici. medica. say­inge it is dry, and hoate in the thyrd degree, Cassia A­romatike. and doth warme the body, and strengthen the instrumēts thereof. This Cassia is of Aromatike nature, and is good for UUomne to drynk whose termes be suppressed: a goodly medicine of Cinamon beaten in pouder, with Lignum Cassiae, is thus made. A precious water made with Cina­mon, Cassia, rose water, [...]. white wyne, for all cold causes. R. Cinamon l i.i. Cassia ℥.ii. water of Roses. l i iiii. cleane whyte Wyne. l i.vi. put these altogether in a close potte couered: put this pot into a warme vessell of leuke warme Water, during .xxiiii howers, making a smal fyre vnder the receiuing vessel, wherein it is put. Then take it from the same vessel, and powre it into the pan of a com­mon stillitorye, then set on the helmit close, and with a soft fyre distil y ^e same, kepe it in a close glasse, to giue it to them, which haue any cold syckenes, as dropsie, quotidian, aboundance of fleume, stoppyng of the Galle, raynes, or conduite of vryne, Collike, weakenes of the heart, dulnesse of spyrite, Lignum Aloes called A­gallocum which is A­romatike. moystereume, or lack of memory And if you cause thys water to be distilled twoo times, it is the better and of the greater strength. As for Lignum Alces, which is hoat and dry in the second degree, it is called Agallochum, and groweth in Inde, and Arabia Foelix, and is spotted, Aromatike, smelling sweete, Dioscorides Lib. 1 cap 20. and is a lytle bytter to tast vpon, wyth byndyng nature, and it hath a pleasaunte verdure in the mouth. Serapius fayth the best is black, with varyable or diuers colours, ful of sappe, heauy, and hard, grosse▪ and compacted together, Lignum A­loes commeth not from Pa­radise, but frō Mondella city of Inde with sharpe sweete smel. Thys wood commeth from a city called Mondel in In­de, and not from Paradyse as some do foolyshly fansy, it doth, and so is con­ueyed by the Ryuer Ganges. Wel to the vertue thereof. It wyl comforte the brayne, when it is dystempered wyth colde, through the sweete sauour. The decoction thereof, made wyth Barly, Madder and Sugar healeth Ulcers, and UUoundes in the Guttes: and it is good agaynst bloudy flix­es, and hardnes of the Spleene, and is a very holsome Perfume. Cassiafistula▪ commeth frō Egypt. Cassia solutiua, or Fistula, called the Coddes of Egypt, can not be spaced among old Persones, and tender People: for the gentle purgyng of the Bodye, clen­syng of the Raynes, prouokyng Uryne. Eyther drawen wyth Endyue [Page] water, Goates whaie, or eaten new from the Cane, tempered with Barly water, Cassiafistula haue many vertues to help mankynd it can not bee forborne. or Morell UUater. It maketh a good Gargarisme for Angina or paynes in the throate, or Apostumacions in the Guttes. It is good in washyng or clensyng Clisters, and it wyl make soft a hard Apostumacyon applyed thereunto, in any part of the body. It is good for the Goute to bee made in plaster, for the same purpose. Who so hath great paines in the Guts, it is not good to giue Cassia simply alone, Note. but to mingle it with the pouder of Hiera Picra, and for the raynes, to put it in the Syrupe of Liquorice. It is hoat and moyst in the fyrst degree, the heauier, the Ramisher in sauour: the shynyng blacke of colour, is best Cassiafistula, & frō Memphis, and Alexan [...]ria in Egypt commeth Cassia.

There is a verye sweete Mosse, which groweth vpon trees, men say it is good in medicine, what say you to the matter?

Dioscor lib. 1. Capi. xx. THE best Mosse that groweth vpon any Tree, is of the Ce­der: the second of the Popular Tree, the thyrd of the Oke. The white is good▪ but the blackishe is to be refused. It is sweete and odoriferous, and hath vertue to stop: the decocty­on thereof is good to wash, and help the paines of y ^e mouth, & of the matrix. Thys whyte Mosse is good in Bathes, and in comfortable Oyntments, for the weakenes of a cold feeble stomack. Plinie doe commend it, Lib. xij. cap. xxiij. calling it Sphagnos or Brion: saying. it gro­weth in the Prouince of Cyrenaica, which is a coūtrey in Afrike. &c. In other places, as Cyprus, Egypt, and Phaenicia: there groweth very good in Fraunce and Italy, both sweete, and wyl molify Galen lib. vj. s [...]mplici medica. sayth, Bri­on, which is Splanchnon, is found among Okes, Pine trees, and white Po­pulors: it hath power to stop or bynd, but very weakly: it is neyther hoate nor cold, To comforte the spyrites. but meane. It hath vertue to direct and molify, chyefly that, which commeth from the Ceder trees. Auicen sayth, it wyl make a wholsom Cor­dial medicine. And also the sauour is good for the brain, and spirites or sen­ses, that be weake. Of sweete Muske Serapius sayth, it commeth frō a beast, mutch like a Goate, that feedeth vpon Aromatike trees, Ruellius and Simeon Sethi affirme that Muske commeth from a city in the East, Sweete Muske. called Chorasa, the Barbarians cal it Pat, and of colour is somwhat yellow An other Musk commeth from Inde, not comparable in vertue to the fyrst: & this is blacke of colour, The beast which giueth Muske, is like a Goate that which bringeth S [...] ­uette, is lyke a Catte. The blaun­ching of Muske. and this commeth from a beast like a Goat. armed with one horn in his forehead. And this commeth from betwene their legges: and also is gathered in the cleare ayre, and bryght shining dayes from the dunge, and closely preserued in Uessels: and sold to the marchants, both this pure dūge and sweete coddes, and or it commeth to our vses, it is adulterated by the Apothicaries, by manye craftye wayes, as with Mouse dounge, Char­coles. &c. But of the own nature it is most pleasaunt and comfortable to the weake spirites of mankynd, against frensy, collike▪ Cardiace, Palsie, lack of memory, heauines of minde, dropsy, lack of digestion &c. And what is plea­saunter in sweete water, Swette thinges bee good. to wash hands, head, & beard, and good in apparel [Page 56] and may be rightly vsed, it is Gods gift, to adorne and garnysh Mankynd with, although, lyght wanton, lecherous people, for mankynd but yet abu­sed of youth­full wanton [...] are not to bee suffered in them. do make it an Instrument of prouocacion to naughtines withal. Yet the good vse thereof among the honest, is no more to be forborne, than the abuse is worthy to be suffered a­mong the harlots. Precious Balmes and perfumes are not forbydden by Gods woord: although Iudas dyd murmure, when the Woman dyd a­noint Iesus, with the precious Nardus. And Isaac beyng blinde, dyd reioyce in the precious smel, which came from the Garments of his Sonne Iacob, Marc. xiiii. when he blessed him, saying: behold the smell of my Sonne, Gene. xxvi. is as the smell of a field, whych the Lord hath blessed. And thus I end of Muske, which is hoat in the second, and dry in the thyrd degree. Some affirme, Muske. that if Musk do swim in water, then it is good, but the contrary yf it synketh, As for Si­betto, called Siuet, is a beast like a Cat, which Beast commeth from Syria, and sometime there be seene of them here in England brought from Venice: Of the Siuet Cat. and betwene the testiles of this beast, commeth the sweete Siuet, whych is hoat and moist of nature: if Women be stopped in the matrix, put some of this anoynted vpon a pessarie, into the mouth of the matrix, and she shall be sone helped. Matthiolus, reporteth more therof. Lib. 1. Dioscorid Cap. xx. which I wil not name, it is so venerous. As for Amber Grice, or Amber Cane, Diuers opi­nions, how Amber Grice is found. which is most sweete myngled with other sweete thynges: some say it commeth from the rockes of the Sea. Other say it spryngeth out of the earth, in A­rabia Foelix, or Inde, vpon thynges that smell like Mosrumes, and so is pres­sed forth & preserued. Some say it is gotten by a Fish called Azelum, which feedeth vpon Amber Grece, and dyeth, which is taken by cunnyng Fishers and the belly opened, and this precious Amber found in hym. Other do say, it is found swimming vpon a fountain of pure water: and that is thought to be the best inuencion. For Symeon Sethi, sayth Amper called Amber, is in­creasyng, or found in diuers places. and is gathered in Fountaines swim­ming aboue, as Bitumen is▪ or Brimstone, whereof be three kyndes, the fyrst is Fuluus, which mixt of greene and red. yeldeth a darke yellow, Amber Grice of three kinds whych is brought from Inde. An other kinde commeth from Arabia Foelix, whych is darke, white, or gray in colour: the thyrd is blackish, and is the worst, a very counterfeit Amber. This Amber Grice is of nature hoat and dry, the sauour thereof doth greatly comfort the heart and brain of old People, or weake women: and to comfort the heart, it is equal to any other odoriferous trea­sure. It is put into many precious Cordials, and wholsome medicines: and no­thing is more better to quicken the spyrytes and comfort memory, thā this rych Amber Grece. Gloues sweetely perfumed with Muske, Siuet, Am­ber Grece, and Oyle de Ben, be very wholsome for Cytizens, Sweete Glo­ues, their pro­fite. that dwell in close, corrupted foule ayre. In deede, it can not bee forborne of noble Princes, Lords, Ladyes, and gentle folkes: God gyue them grace to know it to bee hys gyft, to pleasure the Sense of smellyng, and to defend euyll ayres, and not to moue, or to be an instrument of Ungodlynes. Whereas to vse it well, it is of no small profyte to Nature, as example. R. Storax Calamite ʒ.iii. Beniamyn ʒ.ss. Cloues. ʒ.ss. Lignum Aloes. ʒ.ii. Galia Muschata. ʒ.iii.ss. Amber [Page] Grice. ʒ.i.ss. Muske. G. xvi. Siuet. G. xii. a lytle sweete Terebinthin, all put into a warme morter, A good Po­mamber a­gainst cold­nesse of the brayne very pleasaunt. & strongly beaten with the pestell, pouring in sweete Rose, or Damaske water. Of this is made a precious Pomāber. to be worne against foule stinkyng aire: weaknes of the brayne, comming of cold. And thus I do end of this most sweete Oders.

What say you of the Wood, called Ebenus.

Diosco. lib. 1. Capit. iii. Ebenus of .iii. kindes. THe best Ebenus commeth from Ethiopia, and is very black, it hath no vaines in it, but abyting sharp taste: yet very sweete in per­fume, and is gummie, this is the best. There is an other darke yellow, and spotted, and this hath a byndyng vertue & is good to be put in Colliries, for sore eyen. And Galen lib. v. simplj medi­cam. Ebenus is one of the woods, beaten into pouder and resolued in water, to be drunk to help the Stone: and of Nature is hoat and scouryng. And for that cause, it is good to be put in Medicines, for to helpe the syght of the eye. A goodly me­dicine for sore eyes, of Ebenus. or blysters in them. If Ebenus bee fyne ground. vppon a whette stone, and wyth a Knyfe taken from it. G. iiii. and the pouder of Lapis Calaminaris. G. ii. Seef. G. iii. Chamfer. G. i.ss. the whyte of an Egge, Rose water, and Wo­mans Milke ana. ʒ.ss. myngled together: this wyl most effectually, clense & scoure sore darkened Eyes. Theophrastus lib. 4 cap. vi. de historia plantarum. saith, in Inde the wood is common▪ and of two kynds: the one is precious, and doth seruyce, and the other is of no estimacion. The Prynces of Inde doe esteeme Ebenus, Sceptees for Kynges▪ and the Heathen Idolles of Ebenus. rycher than gold, for of that Wood, they do not onely make theyr drynkyng Uessels, agaynst poyson, but also the Scepters of regall ho­nour. And fynally theyr Idols of their Gods, whome they do worshyp. Thus the Indyans do both vse and abuse thys rych Wood, whych wyll syncke lyke Mettall, and not swim. When Pompey dyd tryumph ouer My­thridates the Kyng of Pontus, one of the greatest gloryes the Romaynes had, was in this straunge wood, When Ebenus came fyrst to Rome. Seades of Ebenus. whereuppon the Scepters and vesselles were made of it. This Ebenus also though it be good, yet it hath ben an instrumēt of Idolatrie, in many places of England: whereof beades haue bene made, not onely of Ebenus, but of Corrall, Iette, Amber, Iasper, Granites, Glasse, Amyll, Gold and Syluer: whych creatures were ordayned for mannes bo­dily health, and not for theyr Contemplacyon, and Spirituall prayers. I dyd know wythin these few yeres, Two Wit­ches in Suf­folke Char­med with Ebeni Beades. a false Witch, called. M. Line, in a town of Suffolke, called Perham, which with a payre of Ebene Beades, and cer­tain charmes, had no small resort of foolysh women, when their Chyldren were syck. To thys lame Wytch they resorted, to haue the Fairie charmed, and the Spyrite coniured away: through the prayers of the Ebene beades▪ whych she sayd, came from the holy land, and were sanctifyed at Rome. Through whom many goodly cures had ben don, but my chaunce was to burn y ^e sayd beads Oh? That dānable witches be suffred to liue vnpunished & so many blessed mē burned: witches be more hurtful in this realm than ei­ther quarten, Pox, or pestilence. I knew in a towne called Kelshall, in Suf­folk [Page 57] a Witch, whose name was M. Didge, who with certain Aue Maries v­pon her Ebene Beades, and a waxe Candle, A Witches blessyng for sayncte An­thonies tyre. vsed this charme folowyng for S. Anthonies fyre, hauing the sicke body before her, holding vp her Hande saying: there came two Angels out of the North east, one brought fyre the the other brought frost, out fyre. and in frost. In nomine patris. &c. I coulde re­herse an. C. of sutch knackes, of these holy gossips, the fyre take them all, for they be Gods enemyes.

THis is wood of great vertue, and excellent goodnes, few woods may be compared to it, for the estimacion: yet for the French disease, there is an other rich wood, called Guaicum, I pray you speak somthing of that wood.

GVAICVM, or Guaiacanum called Lignum sanctum, or the holye wod, or wood of Life, is of a kynd of Ebenus. Of the Wood of life called Guaicum. And as almightye God prepared a tree of great vertue, for Moises to cast into the water called Mara or bytternes, throughe which tree, the same water was made pleasaunt and sweete, for the chyldren of Is­raell to drynke vpon in the wyldernesse, when as they murmured against God and hys holy Prophet Moyses: Euen so it hath also pleased him to or­dayne & prepare this Guaicum: wherby through his mynisters knowledge, Exod. xv. d it myght be a meane to make whole, and clense the fylthy stinkyng corrup­ted bodyes of his dysobedient chyldren, which haue lyued in most shamelesse lust and lechery, among paynted stinking harlots, for whych offence, they be smitten with the plague, called the French Pockes, The Pox of Fraunce. an euyl most noysome to nature, cosin Iarman to thincurable Leprosye. This Guaicum I say wyl not onely make a Pocky body cleane, but also is good to clense any of the princypall humours, when they do abound, whereby there shalbe a tempe­rance most perfect in nature, it wyl clense the raynes, itch, and skabbes. And nothing may be compared to the same, to rebate, asswage, clense, con­sume, and wast without hurt▪ great fatty grose bellyes of idle men and wo­men, which be puffed vp with eating, drynking, sleapyng and sytting in the house al y ^e day without labour, the tables, cardes, and Pot, excepted which causeth them but lytle to sweat, and lesse to thriue: for sutch folkes Guaicum drynke is incomparable aboue all others for the goodnes, to renew them & make them appeare young againe: for the Goute, Dropsy, Sciatica, Canker, and Timpany. This is equall to the best medicines, therefore it may be cal­led Lignum vitae, the wod of lyfe, because it hath vertue to renew. This wor­thy wod of lyfe, God hath giuen to the christian people, in these last Dayes; which wod was vnknowen to the old Fathers as Dioscorides, Theophrastus, Antonij Mu­sae exam. omnium, Simpl. de lignis. Plinius, Gale, Paulus, Aetius. &c. And y ^t is no maruel, for y ^e part of y ^e world wher­as this wod doth grow, was neuer found forth by the famous Cosmogra­pher Ptolomaeus, Pomponius, & others, but of late yeres only. This wod was found by the saylers into the new Ilandes, called Corterali, Hispaniola, distāt somwhat from the Equinoctial line, & in many other parts there about, wher­as the people of those lands be often infected with soores, biles, and a sick­nesse [Page] mutch like the Pox, or els the very same in deede: and to recouer the same, the sicke folkes do eat of the fruict of Guaicum, and are made whole: this fruict wyl sone rotte, Three kynds of Guaiacum but the white is most ex­cellent. but whereas the fruicts can not be gotten, then they do make a decoction of the wood or barkes of the same which bringeth the lyke health. The Spaniard perceiuing the same, did bryng this wood in to Europe, not onely for to heale theyr owne Pox, but also for Fraunce, I­taly, Germany, and for England, in whome this wood taketh no small ef­fect for the foresayed Pox: of this Guaicum are three kyddes, the fyrst is black within, in the heart, pale coloured, hauing in it ru [...]let lynes, very hard and heauy. The other black within but white without, hauing very smal lynes, is hard and heauy, and not so great as the first. The third is al right whyt [...] within and without, hauing very small lynes, and the hart of this Wood is the best, The consi­deracion of Guaicum. the arme of the tree is better then the body the bowes nearer the fruicts hath more vertue, warmnes and drynes, than the lower partes of the tree, which are groser & more earthly of nature, and the more vncteous the wood is, it is the better, the sappe is not so good as the heart, neither the barke as good as the sappe. But the white wood is sweete and most excel­lent in operacion, and is Lignum sanctum, the holy wood. The barke of the straight young braunches or bowghes, being heauy and white, moyste and without lines hard compacted be the best barkes for the Pox. All these woddes called Guaiaci, haue a rosin or matter like Beniamen or pleasaunte Gum within the wood. whych is the spyrite or lyuely helpyng humore in decoction for the Pox For the ertreame paynes in the ioyntes sinewes, Mannes na­ture is subiect to many euils for want of perfit tempe­rament. vai­nes muskels, head handes, feete, and the bones, no sycknesse is so sharpe and cruell to nature, but this precious wood wyl both quickly and gently ass­wage the payne and grief of the same, if it bee ministred accordynly in de­coction, namely to them whom either the Pox hath tormented, or else the Goute hath torne or racked wyth intolerable grief: Among all mortall in­firmites, which is more grieuous to nature, than the Strangurie, pyssyng of bloud, or stoppyng of the stone: what diseases againe be more Enemyes to mans nature, than swelling of the Belly, Hydrops, putrifaction of Hu­mours, opilacions, he dach, Vertigo, Feuers through heat aboue nature, with fyer in the arteries, shingles and horrible apostimacions, with a great nū ­ber of plagues more. which be all mortal enemyes to the nature of man, as a contynual fyer to burne hym, or els a merciles drowning water of vtter destruction, or fynally a deadly earthly Graue to swallow him vp, through the corrupcion & infection of aire? Thus the .4. eliments or humors in man­kynd, through euil mixture, or one aboūding aboue the other, grow to cor­rupcion. The cases of deadly peril, & an hard matter to bring the body again into good order or perfit healthful estate. What euill haue happe­ned through the abusing of Guaicum e­mong the im­perikes. As I haue sayd. what is better thā Guaicum, called wood of life, which wood was not a litle abused of a great number of ignorant, murdering, shameles practicioners, which haue taken vpon them to bynd sick men to a law, obseruing the new diet, onely wyth Guaicum, wherin they haue sodden in the decoction therof many drugges Colocinthis, Briony, Turbith. Diacridium. with an hundreth sondry more such like simples sodden or brewed with this Guaicum: this, they do vse one geenerall [Page 58] rule, to euery complexion a like, to euery age the same, and to the Man: Woman, and Chyld al a lyke, neither obseruyng the quantity, place or time: but as I haue sayd, one onely generall rule. Close Chamber like a Bee in a boxe, bread by the ounce, a few Raysons, and sometimes a chickens Legge, Beware of the new diat except you-haue twoo li­ues. or els a wise minister of the same. with many sutch folish Ceremonies, mutch cost and small good cheare, if one be healed by chaunce medly, a hundred are slayn through this diat wil­fully. or els very foolishly: and who so goeth to borde to sutch an hoost, first let him make his last wyl and testament, perhaps he shall not die the soner, but lyue the wiselyer For this diat with close ayre, Raysons and Chickens legges, is very good victail for mareners that purpose to sayle throughe the daungerous rockes, and sandes of the fearfull passage betwene Scylla, and Charibdes. Experience hath learned vs sufficientlye, by the deathes of manye which haue ben slayne in this purgatory of this folysh Phisycke, ignorant­ly vsed, or this Guaicum rather folishly abused for money: as many goodlye creatures, by. and through money, are chaunged, transformed and altered out of kynd, for money is a marueilous instrument a chaunger, a transfor­mer, or a bewytcher of mankynd, and an instrument whereupon the coue­tous man doth continually play his infernall discordes vpon: as example, if lawers take wrong matters in hand: if djuines desyre many spyrituall pro­mocions, and be carelesse of theyr heauenly duety, Couetous­nesse and Mo­ney, do make blind, both Diuines, Lawers, and Phisicions, & trāsforme thē from the na­ture of men into infernall monsters. if Phisicions prolong or abuse theyr times, with their miserable syck pacients, then what is y ^e cause? nothynge but coueteous Heartes, and Moneye. Couetousnesse is the Mother of all the euilles of this worlde, and golde and Siluer ar [...] euer deceiptfull, and beguile mankynd. Gold is the prynce of euil, y ^e short­ner of tyme, the waster and consumer of vertue, loue, liberality rest, peace. and quietnes, the instrument of treason, warre, thefte, whoredome, slaugh­ter, bloudshedyng, and perilous periurye: this wretched money should not thus be abused of the Chrystians, seinge one of the Heathen wise men moste vehemently doth count it a vice most hurtfull and intollerable in any com­mon wealth, according to my words aforesayd, crying out agaynste coue­tousnesse, wyth her instrumentes (Golde and Syluer) whych is abused saying.

Therfore God graunt of his mercy to thre kynds of callyngs in this worlde y ^t they may walk truly. obediētly, & charitably, in the sight of God and man, Three most notable and best instru­ments of the cōmon welth The Deuine the Lawer & the Phisicion▪ wherby that Chryst may be chiefly honored, & his peple profited. First, to thē of the church which should be y ^e mouth betwene God & his flock. Secōdly y ^e Magistrate, or Lawer, that ryghteousnesse may be ministred, and Iustice, boserued, and no Man wrongfullye oppressed. Thyrdly, for the preserua­cion of the Bodye, that the Phisicion marre not, or caste awaye that whych God hath so richlie garnished with the Giftes of Nature whi­ [...]he is Mankinde. And now let vs retourne againe vnto our Guaicum or Lignum vitae, called the wood of Life, which through couetousnesse, hath [Page] ben rather made the wod of death, through long new diates, to small effect to many, though fortunate to few. Marcellus my brother, when your fryend Senior F. Neopolitani was smitten with the Pox, his haire fell away, he coulde not sleepe for boneache, his breth did stinck, Lord how pale hee looked, hys muskles consumed, the skabbes appeared, vnder whom were deepe hooles grauen with putrifyed matter. &c. but now his head is couered with hayre his skin cleane, rose coloured in his cheekes, full of strength, he sleepeth very well, and is in health.

I Am not a litle glad of y ^e good tydings, but gladder, I would be to learne how he was healed, and with what medicine. For a man may throughe chaunce medly fall into this perill: then a present remedy for a Myschyefe would do well for that purpose.

March and Apryll are the best time to help the Pox.THus he made his drink for him selfe and one of his companions in the month of March and Apryll last past. R. The best Guaicum, most hea­uy, and ful of gum l i.iiii let it be wel rased with a rape or turned into fine chips by a Turner. and of the same barks. l i ii. Carduus Bened [...]ctus, whych is called the blessed Thystell, Dioscorides lib. 3. cap. xci. Atractylis is Carduus Be­nedictus. which Thistel Dioscorides calleth Atractylis, with prickes like Carthamus, with many leaues, which Thistell is good agaynste pryckyng of Serpents, and among herbes it excelleth all other agaynst poi­son. And in decoction with Guaicum, sayth Petrus Andreas Matthiolus, it wyll helpe the French Pox. Therefore of the sayed Thystell, put. l.ss, Mayden hayre, Cetrach, the flowers of the wyld, and Garden Buglosse, ana. l.i. sweete Cassia. ʒ.vi. Anisseede. ℥.i.ss. whyte Sugar l i.v. cast all these into a Wine ves­sell, cleane and apt for the same purpose, vpon which poure of the cleanest & best whyte Wine, that may be got, very hoat, in quantity. l i. one hundreth and fyfty, couer this Uessell close three dayes, then strayne it throughe an hayre cloth. then kepe this in a cleane vessell, for the Pacient at Dinner and Supper, but not to drynke in the Mornyng, and euening, like vnto Syrupus, or medycines as many men rashly haue vsed. Besides the drynking of thys Guaicum at Dynner, A good way to seeth Guai­cum for the Pox. and Supper, the Pacient may betweene the tymes, as one hower before and after Dynner and Supper drynke. ℥.iiii. or .v. Also your foresaied receiptes may be put in cleane new whyte or claret wyne, be­ing fyned, and made in the prescribed maner. Furthermore, the paciēt which hath the Pox, Dropsye, or Goute, may drinke amonge, this worthy medy­cine folowing, the dosse or quantity is. ℥.ii. or more according to the age and complexion of the pacient. Take maiden haire, clean fresh Hops, Fumitorye Sitrach, called Asplenū, Sene of Alexāder, of ech .M.iii. gret Cētauri roots Liquorice, Polipodie, wyld & Garden Buglosse, ana. ℥.iiii. Anisseedes. Nigel­la, Romana, y ^e flowers of Bugloss, y ^e thre Sāders, Cinamō, an. ʒ.v. put this in­to. l i.xxiiii. of the Guaicum water, sodden after the description in the Com­poundes folowyng, then put it in a close Uessell, and stoppe the mouth. and whan that is done, set the sayed Uessell, in an other seethyng kettell vppon the Fyer, so let it stande and seeth for .xx, Houres fayre and softlye, then [Page 59] strayne it, and kepe it in a cleane close vessel, for the vse aforesayd. But if the pacyent be very ful of humours, then do thus. The most ex­cellent & best maner to seeth Guaicū in composici­ons with o­ther simples to clense the Pox from all the members of the body. Take Sene of Alexander l i.ii, Succorosarum solitiue l i.vi. white Sugar. l i.vii. Rhabarbe elected ʒ, iii. finely cut, Turbit of the best. ℥.i. put these in a cleane stone potte with a narrowe mouth. poure into this pot. l i.xxjiii. of the common Guaicum water, made in manner in the compounds folowyng, stop your pots mouth, seeth it in the foresayd maner vpon a soft fyer .xxiiii. howers vntyll it come to a thin Si­rupe, called a Iulep, then strayne it and kepe this precious pourging drynke for mornyngs, the dose. ℥.i.ss. accordyng to the age, complexion and strength the pacient must also eate bread. ℥.iii. well baken like Bisquet, and the fleshe of Chicken, Hen, Capon, Patrige Fesant, small Birds of the wod rosted, ex­cell sodden meates: and if the common drynk be to strong, The diat for the pox, short­ly declared. then the pacyent may poure thereunto some small cleane wyne or beere: let the pacient be me­ry, kept in a faire cleane chamber with sweete perfumes, not mutch feeding but lytle and fyne, with cleane warme apparell, and a fyer of charcoles. es­chewyng venery, wynes, fruicts, fish, grose flesh potage, and white meates. Care, anger, cold, mutch heat: and thus I doe end of this precious wodde Guaicum called Lignum sanctum.

I pray you what is the nature of Mumia, Bytumen, Sperma Caeti, Tartar, Terra sigillata, and Dragons bloud?

MVMIA, is of nature hoat and dry, in the secōd degree, Mumia, or Mumme. and commeth from Arabia, & is made of dead bodyes, of some of the noble people: because the sayed dead are rychly em­balmed wyth precyous Oyntmentes and spyces, chyefly Myrhe, Saffron, and Aloes. This Mumia hath vertue to staunch bloud, to incarnate wounds, to help the Fallynge sycknes, Against run­ning of bloud or bruses. beaten into pouder and squirted wyth a syringe with Mariarum water into the Nostrylles. Tempered with Cassiafistula and drunke with Planten water, it is very good against bruses: but Dragons bloud, Planten water, Madder, Terra sigillata, and Mumia, Bitumen of the dead Sea tempered together and drunke, helpeth great bruses, bloudy flixes, and stauncheth wounds ap­plyed to the place. Bitumen, which is a fome of the ded sea, Sperma caeti of the whale▪ and turneth into a matter like Rosen, and is hoat in the second degree. it hath Uertue lyke vnto Mumia, to staunch bloud. to heale wounds &c. The Greekes call it As­phaltos, Sperma Caeti, the seede of the generacion of the mōstrous Whale, Tartar, made of wine lies. hath vertue being drunk with Planten water, Ale, Malmsey or other old cleane wine, to help bruses of great falles. Tartare, is made of wine lyes, hoate and dry in the third degree, it is most excellent against itch & skabs, put in oint­ments whan it is beaten into pouder, it clenseth the Morfew. A litle Seue, Mastick & Tartare, sodden in a Chickens broth, is beneficiall to purge y ^e bel­ly. Terra sigillata ▪ is stipticke & will cleaue to the tongue, Terra sigil­lata stoppeth bloud. of nature hoat and dry, and is put to oyntmentes to stop bloudy flixes, new bloudy woundes, and hath vertue of Bitumen▪ Sanguis draconis, is colde & dry in the third degree [Page] stypticke of nature, therefore it stauncheth bloud, and bloudy flixes: If it be stamped wyth Mouseare and Planten, it wyll stop Bloud, applyed to the place. But myngle the pouder of Dragons bloud wyth Terebyntine. and Frankensence, it is good for to stop a new bloudy wound.

What Uertue is in Masticke, Rosen, Frankensence, Beniamen, Storax, and Mirrh called Stacte. &c,

MAsticke is a fyne sweete droppyng Gum, from a tree of great ver­tue, and is hoate and drye in the seconde degree, and is good for the Reume to champe vpon, Mastick, is holsome to champ vpon for the reume. & pleasaunt agaynst corrupted ayre in per­fume. The pylles be of synguler Uertue for the sayd Reumes. The Oile wil mutch comfort the Synewes, and also wyl incarnate the flesh. Mastick [...] with Stauesager prouoketh humous, by retraction from the brayn to the mouth, Myrrhe pre­serueth the body from putrifaction or rotting. champed vppon. Myrrh a noble gum of most singular vertue, which is hoat and dry in the second degree, and preserueth agaynst rotte and putri­factyon, and is of great vertue in fresh wounds to defend them from apostimacions or rotten matter: to heale a wound quickly, nothyng is better: in balmes artificiall, Mirrhe is pryncipall. In wound waters, Mirrhe taketh the chief force. In the pylles of Ruffius agaynst the pestilence, Myrrhe, A­loes, and Saffron, do resyst the poyson of the same pestilence: for wounds in the head, Mirrhe is of great vertue. The bodyes of Prynces are long preserued after death through Myrrhe. The sauour of the same and dayly dryn­kyng in Betony water, Thus called Frankensence or Olibanum Dioscor. lib. 1. lxx. G. vi. of Myrhe, defendeth from the fallyng Euyll, and sorenes of the lunges. Thus, called Frankensence is hoat in the seconde and dry in the fyrst degree, and droppeth from trees of the same name, which we do cal Furre trees, it hath vertue to nourish and engender flesh in the tender bodyes of men or women: and this Frankensence is vsed in manye salues, to help mankinde, and is more profitable for mankynde in medicyne then commendable to be wasted in Churches, in parfuming the insensible Images. Frankensence is good to parfume the Clothes, for them whych haue the bloudy flixe, and thus I ende of Thus called Frankensence. Oliba­num is not mutch vnlike in nature to thys Frankensence. but the very same in Greeke. Gum Sarco­cole. Gum Sarcocoll, is dry in the fyrst degree and hoat in the second, it is a sanatyue gum to incarnat wounds and sores, and nothyng excelleth thys gum to put into Collyries for sore eyen. as whan the sight is couered wyth whyte spots. Resina. Rosen. Diosco. lib. 1. capi. lxxiiii. Rosen called Resina pini, hath warming, mundifying, and dissoluing nature. This Rosen no Shyppe, or Chirurgian can want. Rosen dryeth and warmeth colde Melancholy, sores Apostimations and Ulcers: and furtermore it wyll produce Fleshe in the Woundes of stronge persons: Picea. Pix naualis and Tarre. there be sundry kyndes of Rosen, as dropping from the Ceder. &c. but all of one nature. Also a little I shall put you in remembraunce of Pix. com­monly called Pix Naualis, of nature hoate, and dry, and hath vertue to dis­solue, Consume, and is put into Plasters, agaynst colde Dyseases, it is also put into inward Medicines to be drunk against Bruses, as Mummea is. [Page 60] There is another Pix called Liquida, which is more h [...]at [...]r and thinner, e­uer moist commonly called Tarre, whych hath vertue to spread, consume & wast humours, put into sondry goodly Oyntments agaynst cold soores, and also to heale Skabs. Tarre is not only holsome for Mankind to kyl sondry skabbes and soores, and scaules (as take Pix Naualis, Tarre, Litarge of Syl­uer, Hony, ana, (q) quarter.ss. sharpe Uyneger, Planten water, Beane meale, a lyttle Salt, boyle all these in a litle close vessel, sturre it, and shaue the heade, A goodly place for a skaule in the head. and make a plaster, and lay it on hoat .xxiiii. houres, and then teare it of, and put on another, & so do vntil the skabbe be rooted forth). But also Tarre, grease and French Sope, tempered together, is good to anoynt skabbed Sheepe, horse. &c. wyth a tent of Baken and Tarre, I haue healed the Fistula often times: and thus I do end of Tarre.

There is a goodly Gumme called Galbanum whych commeth from y ^e Gal­banum trees in Syria, which is put in sundry plasters, Galbanum is a holsome gumme. and is hoat in the beginnyng of the thyrd degree, and dry in the second, and it hath vertue to molly­fy and spread. Dioscorides affyrmeth, Galbanum wyl draw forth dead children. that if it be applyed playster wayes or in subfumigacion, it wyl not only draw forth the stopped Termes, but also a dead abortiue Childe: The smooke thereof maketh venemous thynges to flee. It preuayleth agaynst poison. And a lytle Galbanum with Myrrhe drūk, clenseth the lunges, cough, and stoppyng of wynd, but yet it is very noisome to sauour vpon: therfore it helpeth the Mother. To clense Galbanum, To clense Galbanum. put it in very hoat water, and by litle and lytle the filth thereof will seperate from the cleane part, and so you may vse the sayd cleane part for your Plasters, as it is written in the booke of Compounds. You may also resolue Galbanum all the Night in Uineger, and in the morning boyle it: and in water or vineger you may do so to other Gummes. and some other hard Gummes you may break into pouder in a morter, or vpon a stone. Eupherbium of Lybica.

Euphorbium commeth from a tree that doth grow in Lybica. The beste Eu­phorbium is that is cleane, like vnto Glasse, and is sharp of taste: this is hoat and dry in the fourth degree, and is very good for woūds in the head, To help the prycking of synewes. drop­ped into them. It is holsome in Linaments and Cerots. If it bee sodden with Oyle of Elder, Beane flower and earth wormes, it is good agaynste the pricking of the sinewes. In plasters and Cerots, for the French Pox it is profitable. Plinius affirmeth, that Iuba the king of Libye did fyrst finde this Euphorbium vpon the mountaine Atlante beyond Hercules Pillers, and cal­led it by the name of his Phisicion which healed Augustus the Emperour: it will not onely draw forth raw fleume, but water abounding, as in Dropsy: but it is euyl for a dry cholorike body to drynke in medicine, it is so hoate of nature.

Ammoniacum commeth from Africke, by the place where as the Oracle of the false God Ammon was. Ammoniacum of Ammon. This gumme Ammoniacum is mutch like Fran­kensence, bitter in tast, and smelleth like to Castorium, it mollifieth, warmeth and draweth. It is good in any Linaments. And being drunke, doeth lose the belly, and casteth forth the dead childe, helpeth the Spleene, and Sciatica, one dragme being drunke. And thus I do end of Ammoniak, which is hoat in the third, and dry in the first degree.

[Page] Assafoetida doth stinke yet it helpeth the Mother & Lunges. Assafoetida stinketh, and is good for Women to smell vppon, that be com­monly sicke of the Mother, it is hoat and dry in the seconde degree, some do affirme in the third. It hath vertue to dry, to consume, to clense, & spread. Fiue pilles of Assa, taken in a reare Egge at midnight, do cleanse the lunges, and helpeth a short wynded Man or Woman. Oyle of Spike, Mastike, Safron, Wax, Castor, and Assafoetida ▪ stamped and sodden together, make an excellent medicine for the gout, or paynes in the ioynctes: and thus I dooe ende of stinking Assafoetida.

Sagapen, or Serapinum, a goodly gum Sagapenum or Serapinum is a precious gum, running from a small tree, lyke a Kix or a Reede, and is hoat in operation. The best of this gum is y ^t which shyneth through, and in couler is darke, yellow without, and whyte wyth­in. Dioscorides lib. 3. cap. 79 Sagapen wyll help y ^e lunges, and splene. Thys Gum is good in many Lenetiues, and also inward medicines: as to pourge Fleume, to help the Falling sicknes, to cleanse the Lunges, help y ^e swelling or hardnesse of the Splene and is good agaynst the resolution of the Synewes, conuulsyon, ruptures, fyrst steeped in Wyne or Hydromell, then drunke.

Bdelium hel­peth hard A­postumations Bdellium is a goodly tree, growing in Arabie, from which tree distilleth a worthy gum like Waxe, but cleare shyning, vnctuous, and sweet of sauour, and bitter in taste: it is hoat in the second degree, and is put in many oynt­mentes: it resolueth, consumeth, and disperseth apostumations y ^t be hard.

Boras. Boras, is hoat and dry of Complexion, whose vertue is to knit, and glewe woundes together by attraction.

Glaucium, is good for to clense sore eyen. Glaucium or Memitha, so called, is colde and dry in the first degree, and com­meth from Syrra: Plinie affirmeth this to be the lesser Celidon, and that cānot be, for Celidon is hoat, and Glaucium is colde: therefore they cannot be one, seeing they be of two sundry natures: yet in couller it is yellowe, and mar­ueylous good for to make Syef, for to clense and helpe sore eyen. Dioscorides doth commend this Iuyce. lib. 3. cap. lxxxiiij

Gum Arabike will stoppe a bloudy woūdGum Arabyke, is hoat and moyst, of vertue will staunch bloud in woun­des, because it is slimy, it wyll also mollify and make thinges soft y ^t be har­dened, as apostimations, and it will stop the bloudy Flixe, resolued in Red Wyne, and drunke.

Glew, called Glutinum, of nature is hoat & dry, and is made of the skyns of beastes: Glew, the best is made of the strongest beastes, as Bulles, Oxen, red Deare. &c. that whych is whytest, and cleare shynyng, is very good. Resol­ued in Uinegar all the night, Dioscorides. lib. 3. cap. 85. the same will clense Leprous fylth, and Mar­mols from the skyn, the place being warme anoynted therewyth. And sod­den in warme Water, Glew hath many vertues wyth Oyle of water Lyllyes or Flare, it will helpe skalding & burning of the body, to anoynt the sore place therwith. Woūdes be helped wyth Glewe resolued in Uinegar, and tempered wyth Hony, and put into the sayd woundes, or els wyth Uinegar resolued for the same pur­pose. And thus I doe conclude of Glewe, made of Skinnes, whych can­not bee forborne, 3. Glewes, of Beastes skins, of Fish, and of Corne. neyther of Bowyers, or Fletchers. There is a Glewe made of Fyshes, as of the Bellyes of Whales or other great Fyshes, which will quickely bee resolued. And this is very good for to make Emplastrum for the head, or clense y ^e fylth or red spots from the face. There is [Page 61] another Glew made of Corne, as Wheat. &c. good for Paste for Stacyo­ners, which Galen doth remember libro. vij. simplic. medic.

Gum Opoponax, is a gum commyng from an herbe called Panax, Opoponax, doth resolue. and of nature is hot and dry, and of vertue resoluyng, warmyng, & making softe thinges which be grosse, cold and hard, and is vsed in sundry Oyles and Li­naments.

Tragacantha commeth from Mons Gargano, Gum Tragacantha hel­peth the rai­nes. and is a noble Gumme of greate vertue, and helpeth wounds inwardly in Linaments: and resolued in Fenel water, and dronke, helpeth the raynes of the backe and bladder. And with cleane clarifyed Hony. ʒ.i. doth clense the lunges, and wyll cleare the voyce from coughes, and is of great effect to helpe sore eyen. Many good Pilles, and mixtures to be put vnder the tongue be made of this gum, Diosco. lib. 3. Cap. 20. against An­gina, and all the paynes of the mouth and throate.

Laudanum, is a precious gum, hauing vertue to heat and humecte or moist in the second degree: the best commeth from Cyprus, and is sweete of sauour, Laudanum. Galen doth commend it lib. 7. simplic. medica. because it putteth away cold, and giueth heat, and is good agaynst the coldnesse of the brayne, or cold reume. And Laudanum melted with Beares grease, Laudanum, doth help the haire from falling saith, Pausus. wyll keepe the haire from fal­lyng, to anoynt or emplaster the naked or bare pallet. It maketh goodlye Pessaries for to comfort the Matrix that is cold, and openeth the mouth of the vaynes. Melted in hoat Oyle of bytter Almonds, it maketh a singuler oyntment for deafe stopped eares: in subfumigation close vnder the secrete clothes of Women, whych be newly delyuered of chylde, it will eiect or cast quickly forth the seconds, it moueth vryne. If it be drunk in olde Red wyne it wyl stop the guttes in a bloudy flixe. Masticke and Laudanum incorporate together, do fasten lose teeth, and this Laudanum is vsed both inwardly and outwardly, for the health of mankinde, and hath a sweete sauor of singuler Uertue.

Lycium or Pixacantha, so called of Dioscorides. lib. j. cap. Cxiiii. which commeth from a sharpe thorny bush or tree, leaued lyke Box, Lycium com­meth from Ly­cia. fruict lyke Pepper black and bitter, it groweth in Cappadocia and Lycia. The braunches beyng cutte, stamped and sodden, and so strayned, from theym commeth a Iuice, whych is as thycke as Hony, which is sophistical with sundry substaunces▪ as the iuice of Wormewood, Oxe gaules &c. This Lycium is yellow and bit­ter drying and percing, of substance very earthly, and stiptik, it hath Uertue to helpe the Eyes, dryeth moyste Skabbes, and is good to bee gyuen them which be bytten with a mad Dog, and haue Tenasmus or the bloudy flyxe. For yellow haire. It wyll make one haue a yellow haire, & stoppeth the immoderate flixe, ey­ther Red or whyte abounding in women. And thus I end of Lycium. Acacia commeth from a thorne in AEgipt, whych hath coddes growing vpō it lyke a Broome, out of which coddes, leaues, and seede, Acacia stop­peth the blouddy flixe. is pressed forth the gumme Acatia, which wyl restraine and stoppe most effectually, and is cold and dry. This Acatia aboue all gummes hath vertue to coole and stop bloud, and bloudy flixes, and coole the burnyng of the eyes, and in the commenda­cion thereof reade Dioscorides. lib. j. Cap. xxv. Theophrastus lib. 4. cap. de plant. hi­storia. Galen lib. 7. simplicium medicamentorum. &c.

[Page] Terebinthus, is a goodly tree, hard and blacke, and groweth in Arabia, from which droppeth a precious liquor, Terebinthus or Terebintine hath great vertue. Galen. lib. 8. Sim. medica. or thin guin called Terebintine, although from euery Rosen tree a kinde of Terebintine doth drop. Terebintine is hoat and dry of nature in the second degree, and is vsed in many outward partes or paynes of the body, and is put in sundry oyntmentes & Cerots. &c It will helpe the Synewes and muskels, it stoppeth Tenasmus, which is a running of the guts or flixe, made in a subfumigation vpon y ^e coales. Cleere Uenice Terebintine washed & tempered with Hony, will cleanse y ^e lunges. Taken with Sugar in Pilles, it will clense the raynes, open the Bladder, purge Grauell, The vertu of Terebyntine. cause mutch vrine, help the Yarde, and also mollify y ^e Belly. Terebintine. ℥.ij. often washed in Fenell or Tyme water, then put into it y ^e pouder of new Safron, & Hiera simplex, an̄a. ʒ.ss. and keepe this in a boxe & who so feeleth griefe within their guts or raynes, let them eate of this. ʒ.ij euery morning, during .iiij. dayes. There is a fyne Terebintine comming from the tree Larix, vsed mutch: and thus I leaue of Terebintine which is sweete, Gum Larix is equall to the Terebinthin reede in Aetius and shining cleare, yet somewhat noysome to the stomack. There is mutch counterfet Terebintine, made of Rosen & Oyle. &c, which the Chi­rurgians can craftely Sophisticate.

Styrax calami­te, and liquide Styrax; be sweete and holsome. Styrax Calamite and Styrax liquide, be both hoat and dry, the best of this, saith Galen, is brought frō Pamphilia, it is good to be incorporat with Laudanum, cleane new Waxe, Muske, Siuet, it will make a pleasaunt Pomambre a­gaynst stinking ayre, or coldnes of the brayne or melancholy. Styrax calamite, or of the Reede so called, maketh good Parfumes. The black is worst, the gum with shining couller is best: but to say y ^e truth, the Apothicaries can so well Sophisticate the same wyth Waxe. &c. that we can haue but little true Styrax, as Myrrhe, Amber, Muske. &c. the Apothicaries do gieue them al their blessinges with adulterate baggage, The craft of subtle Apo­th [...]caries, doth mucch harme. with a cast of legerdemayne, to fill their purse, but if we had them in their right kinde, little Waxe were worth mutch money: and now in sundry places, mutch Waxe is worth lit­tle money, or nothing at all. This very Styrax calamite doth mollify, warme, and drunke wyth Wyne, helpeth the greatest griefes in the stomacke and Reume, and letteth y ^e termes slip naturally: and helpeth stincking breath. Tempered wyth Oyle, maketh a precious oyntment for the head, of theym which be ouercome wyth colde. Styrax liquide is good in Oyntmentes for skal [...]s, skabbes, and French Pox, and is good to bee burnt in Parfume a­gaynst a pestilent Ayre.

Diacridium is hoat and dry in the fourth degree, and is pressed out of an herbe to purge with all, Diacridium. the best is shining in substance, and blacke, there is good which is whitish, To knowe good Diacri­dium. but mutch is sophisticated with spurge, Colophonie. &c. but that is not good, if it be bryttle & bitter in Sauour: and if you licke Diacridium with your tongue, so that white fome do remayne after it, then it is good to purge choler, flegme and melancholy: beware you receyue not Scammonie, before it be wel prepared as you may see in y ^e booke of Compoūdes: for this Scammonie is very venomous before it be prepared, & expulseth good matter, and retayneth still the euill or hurtfull humours to the great perill of the Receyuer, and will put the body in daunger of a blouddy flixe incu­curable: [Page 62] therefore prepare, I say, your said Scammonie in Quinces made hol­low, or in gray Costards, after y ^e same maner: put in your Scammonie, sprink­led with Oyle of Uyolets, and bake it in Paste, y ^t the venime may passe a­way: when it is cold, then it is Diacridium fit to purge, being corrected with Mastik: and why shall Mastik bee put in? Scamonie is perillous, ex­cept it be first prepared. Because it will abate the violence thereof, and kepe the stomacke and heart from daunger, and guts from the bloudy Flixe. Gum Arabik is also holsome therewith. Chollerike persons may be purged wyth lesser prepared Scammonie, or Diagridium, thā the Fleg­matike or Melācholy, and it may not be occupied .15. dayes after it be pre­pared as wyth Myrobalans. &c. It is vsed in sundry Electuaries, pouders, & Pilles. And vndiscretly mynistred it anoyeth the heart, dryeth good Hu­mours, and wasteth nature, yea disolueth and finally killeth the body. Read in Valerius Cordus, which is a good Apothicary, not onely to prepare this, but also all other thinges profitable for nature.

I Thanke you wyth all my heart, I haue conceyued no lesse pleasure, to heare you all this long day, than you haue taken paynes of your parte to teache me, the vertues of so many thynges wythout many questions mo­ued: yet I had almost forgotten to mooue you, what vertue is in Myroba­lans, whych euen lately you haue named to be good w ^t prepared Scammonie?

MYROBALANVM is a noble fruicte of Inde lyke Plumbes whych hath vertue to purge superfluous humours, Myrobolans of .v. kyndes. and com­forteth nature, To seeme yōg how to do it. and who so vseth to eate often of Myrobalans be­ing condite, shall not seeme olde, sayth Mesue, and maketh pure couler. There bee .5. kindes of theym, as Flauj, Chepuli, Indicj. or Nigrj, Empelicj, and Belliricj, which do differ one from the other: for y ^t Flauj, and Chepulj, do grow both vpon one tree, for the Flauj are gathered vnripe, and the Chepulj haue their full nature and rypenesse. Myrobalans, Flauj, Indicj, Chepulj, and Belliricj, be colde in the first, and dry in the second degree Empe­licj are colde and dry in the first degree, and be good for the Lyuer, Gaule, Splene, Raynes, and Bladder: and put in infusion of the Iuyce of Quin­ces, standing .24. houres, and then strayned, then put prepared Scammonie, they wil purge choller, as for example: Take Myrobalans Flauj. ℥.j. the iuyce or syrupe simple of Quinces. ℥.iiij. stampe your Myrobalans, and then mingle them wyth the sayd Iuyce, the Iuyce being made warme, and let it stand in a close stone vessell .24. houres, then strayne it forth, whan this is done, beate your prepared Scammonie fine into pouder. ℥.iiij. and temper it toge­ther, putting it in a close warme place to dry it by little & little, and of thys ʒ.j. or litle more wil purge choller, & humours superfluous without hurte. Myrobalans may be stamped with the Syrup of Wormewoode, & then sod­den with y ^e infusion of Agarike, & Rhabarbe, to purge flegme & choller: To purge tē ­der parsons. it may be drawen with Chassia & Manna, for noble persons or People of tender na­ture. This fruict defendeth the body from corruption, trimbling of the heart, heauines, Melancholy, & bringeth to nature, Cleanlynesse, fauour, & myrth. [Page] And drawen wyth Fe [...]ill water and Sugar, To clense sore eyen. it wyl clense the sight to bee dropped into them morning and euening. The pouder of them wyth Ro­sen wyll heale sore Ulcers. And thus I do ende of Myrobalans, whych wyll draw backe the venomous force of euery purgation that doth aboūde in operation.

What is the vertue of Gaules, called Galla?

GAules will bynde, and nothing will cleanse the mouth from filth better, gaules grow lyke Akorns. D [...]oscorides. lib. 3. cap. 123 applied to any sore therein. Whan the intollera­ble paynes of the teeth do rage on still, a peece of Gaule ap­plyed to the place, will so one aswage the same. Gaules soddē and stamped, apply them to y ^e Matrix whan through weak­nesse it is displased or faule downe, and it wil go back to his naturall place agayne. Gaules wyll stop the Flixe Gaules wyll staunche bloud, and make hayre blacke, and stop the bloudy flixe in Clisters. Galen. lib. 7. simplic, medic. sayth Gaules be cold in the second degree. The cuppes wherein they do grow bee of the same nature. And thus I doe ende of Gaules, whych are good to make Inke wythall.

What say you of Acorns of the Oke tree?

THe Oke tree of all noble trees for strength excelleth all other for substanciall buildinges, The Querke or Oke tree, will stop the bloudy flix or bloud, so wyll the Barke, A­korns, or lea­ues, wyth the Cuppes. which Tree shall bee once in no small estimation in this Realme of England to vphold houses, dwel­linges, and the royall Nauies: although the Oke bee of little price, yet for the Age, strength and vertue, few other trees ex­cell it: the Bark cannot be forborne of Tanners to make Leather to serue the common wealth. The timber, as I haue sayd, is pryncipal in buildings. The Acorns haue vertue to stop Dysenteria, and Tenasmus, whych be extreme flixes. Of al trees that be glandiferous or bearing nuts, or Mast, nothing doth restrayne more than the Oke and Acorns, as sayth Dioscorides, lib. 1. cap. 121 and Theophrastus, The Beeche tree, with his fruit wil stop flixes. lih. 3. cap 8. and 9. de plantis historia. Fagus the Beeche tree, and Ilix do beare Mast, not only good for Swyne to feede vpon, but also in medicine doth stop termes imoderat, or restrayne or driue backe guts that be relaxed, or the precipitation or coming forth of the Matrixes of Women, [...]f eyther the barkes, Leaues, Buddes, Acorns, or Cuppes be sodden in red Wyne, running Water, and to sit close ouer it warme, and to drynke the decoction thereof in cleane Red Wyne, Cynamon, and Suger. Suber the Corke Tree wyth hys Fruict, Suber the Corke, will stop bloud & flixe. hath the foresayd vertue to stop the Flixe, or Bloud▪ Reade Plinie. lib. 11.

What then of Castania the Chestnut?

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CHestnuts be commonly knowen, Castania the Chestnut. whych of nature will stop Flixes & restrayne, make fat, & indurate the Splene. In many places of Italy and Fraunce, the people doth lyue by these Chestnuts in wynter, whā they want other fruicts. Stampe Chestnuts, Hony, and Salt together, Chestnuts help the by­ting of a Dog. & apply it to the byting of a mad Dogge, & it will heale it. Chestnuts mooue Venus or carnall lust, being roasted and eaten, they doe offende the heade, and Splene, because they do inflate & stop, they be called Iouis glandes, that is Iupiters Nuts, sayth Dioscorides, lib. 1. cap. 122.

What say you of Myrtus?

MYRTVS the black, Myrtus hath vertue to re­strayn. that grow in the Gardens be of more ver­tue to restrayne, than they which grow vpon the Mountaines, whych be whyte, the seede hath great vertue to restrayne. The seede is good to be giuen to them which haue the bloudy flixe and spit bloud, and it openeth the vryne. The Iuyce of Myrtes drunke in Wyne, doth stop the flixe, & healeth filth, breading about y ^e priuy-mēbers being washed therewith, & it doth clēse y ^e eyen. Myrtes hath vertue, restrayning both inwardly, & outwardly, & do dry, To stop the flixe, called Dyscenteria, & Tenasmus with Myrtes as Galen affirmeth lib. 7. simplic. medic. it is partly ouercome w ^t coldnesse & earthly nature, yet it hath also a thin substance of warmnesse, which giueth it drynesse. And thus I do end of Myrtus, called so of the Latens: and of the Arabians it is called A­las, whereof be three kindes, Saliua, Tarentina, and Exotica, and all be of vertue good to helpe the bloudy Flixe.

What say you to Coloquyntida?

IT is most bitter, white like a baule, full of seedes, Colocīthis, or Coloquyntida Dioscorides. lib. 3. cap. 171 leaues lyke to Cu­cummers, hoat in the second, dry in the third degree. Good in Clisters agaynst the collike, resolution of synewes, & purgeth fleume, choller, & raw humours: it openeth the mouth of the veynes, yet it is perilous to be gyuen to Women with childe, or weake people, A peece of Coloquyntida knit in a clout, and steeped in a draught of white Wyne al a night, with .iiij. or v. Braunches of [...]sop, strayned in the morning, and so drunke, To kill wor­mes in y ^e [...]elly with Colo­quyntida. will purge a stronge body from mutch filth and Iliac: euen so it will being sodden in sweete Water, clense al the body. Coloquyntida, Oxe gaule, Hony, Meale of Lupines, and Oyle of Wormewood, and Aloes, ana. ʒ.j.ss. stamped together, and warme applyed to the belly, eftsoones a lax wil follow, To helpe the Teeth wyth Coloquyntida with Wormes if any be within the guts. Sandarak. ℈.ij. vinegar. ℥.ij. Coloquyntida. ʒ.j. in pou­der incorporate and sodden together put into sore Teeth, taketh away the paynes, if it come of colde: the Oyle of Coloquyntida wyll kyll Wormes, helpe Sciatica, and put into the eares wyll take away the sounde or tingling in them: and thus I do end of Coloquyntida, which is most bitter, and must be taken with discretion, the Arabians do call it Chandell.

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UUhat is Turbit?

TUrbit is to purge flegme, but as for the very Turbit, most mē be vncertayn what it is. Turbit whi­ch purgeth flegme. Actuarius sayth it is the roote of Pytiusa: Ma­nardus and Mesue, affirme it to be second kinde of Tithymalus which is called Mircyniles. But Dioscorides plainly doth affirme it to bee Tripolium, Mutch vari­tie of Turbit what it is. as some suppose by the minde of Serapio. Antonius Musa supposeth it to be the second kinde of Spurge agreeing with Manardus and Mesuae.

What are Tamarindes.

TAmarindes are a sower fruicte of Inde, which be wyld Dates, called Ta­mardactyli, Tamarindes or Tamarda­ctylos. Dioscorides lib. i. cap. 126. and be cold and dry, sayth Mesue, in the second degree. Thys fruict wyl asswage the heat of choler, open the Gaule, and purge the belly. A decoction of Tamarindes with Ptisant, and the iuice of Pomgarnets, wyll quench hoat Apostumacions in the throat: whan humors be to sharp, and bytter in the increasyng or augmenting of the sayd Apostumaciōs. The very pure Garden Dates, Dates of the best kynde. be fruicts of great Uertue. This Date is the ve­ry fruict of that tree whych is called the Palme tree, whych fruict maketh precious wyne in the Lād of Syria, these Dates be commonly knowen here in England. To helpe E­meroydes. Sodden Dates in old wyne wyl help the Emeroides. A Date stamped wyth Hony of Roses, wyl glew & knit a new wound. But mutch eaten vpon, beyng raw, are vnfriendly to the head, and make grose Bloud, and stop the Liuer. Dates good in stewed broth. Notwithstandyng cleane pared Dates be good in ste­wed broth, as we do commonly obserue by custome. Galen doth remember Dates. lib. 7. simplic. medicamentorum, saying they be sweete and warme, and vsed mutch in meates &c.

UUhat say you of Tamariscus, or Tamarix.

TAmariscus, is a wod mutch like Quickbene, wherof there is plenty in one part of Germanye, Tamariscus is a little tree like Quicben within a certayn Iland belonging to one of the Germayn Bishops: and this Tamariscus, is the better known here in England by the famous learned Man Wylliam Turner Phisicion: not onely this, but many other simples, by the same Doctor, which Doctor is a Iewell among vs Englysh men, Doctor wyllyam Turner as well as among the Ger­maynes, as Conradus Gesnerus reporteth of hym for hys synguler Learning, knowledge & iudgement. The wynd of the decoction of Tamarix is holsome to drynke agaynst the hardnes of the Spleene, and stopping of the vryne or strangury, because it doth open so mutch. The pouder therof in bread is hol­some for them to eate whych haue the quarten or Dropsy, Tamarix do helpe the Spleene. it is as good as Asplenum for the Spleene. Galen affyrmeth that Tamarix or Myricae lib. 7. sim­plic. medic. hath vertue to clense and open, and is hoat and dry. Sodden in [Page 64] Uineger, it helpeth the Spleene, and also the tooth ake. Dioscorides, lib, j. cap xcix. doth commend Tamarix, Tamarix against the flixe. and sayth it is vsed oftentimes in the place of Galles, and is good to be drunk against spitting of bloud, and flixes. &c.

WHat say you of the Nut called Pistacia, which is a Nut of Italy. The Iuglans called a Walnut, the Hasell Nut, Nutmegges, Almondes, and the vomiting Nutte,

PLinius affirmeth that the Pistacia is a fruicte of Syria, Pistacia. a nut of Syria or Italy. and was first brought into Italy by the famous Censor called Lucius Vitellius, in the tyme of Tyberius Caesars dayes, and now there be great plenty of these Nuttes in Italy. Galen reporteth of them lib 2. de alementorum facultatibus, that they be but little pro­fitable to nutriment, notwithstanding good to the liuer, clen­syng euyl humours from the same. But whether good or euyl to the Sto­mack, profytable or noto y ^e belly, relaxing or bynding, he doth not affirme. A­uicen sayth thus, one saith he, affirmeth that the Pistate doth not profit the sto­macke: but I, sayth Auicen, say, that the sayd Pistate, doth not onely preuaile agaynst the noysomnesse of the stomacke, The vertue of the Pistac [...] Nuttes. but also wil coroborate and make strong the ventricles. And to conclude, Dioscorides. lib. j cap. cxl. sayth that Pi­states of Syria be friends to the stomack, stamped and tempered with wyne: eyther eaten or drunk they preuayle against the stinging of Serpents. Nux Iuglans the Walnut, Quasi iouis glans as Iupiters nuttes, with which fruicts the people lyued by, before they knew Tillage, Walnuts a­gainst poison▪ as Mithrida­tus reporttth. and called thē the great Gods nuttes. These be commonly knowen, sweete within and bitter. wythout. And this tree, with all parteining to the same is adstrictiue of nature, and good oyle is made thereof, and is bytter, and soner digested than the Fyl­byrd or Hasel nut, and is vsed in medicines against poisons. They be hoate in the fyrst and dry in the second degree: and holsome cleane pycked & wash­ed in wyne, to be eaten after Fysh, and best new. Plinie reporteth that, when Mythridates the kyng of Pontus was dead, there was found in a chest of hys, his own hand writyng, in the land of walnuts, agaynst Poyson R. UUal­nuts, in number .ii. Figges .ii. Rue leaues xx. stamped together with a lyttle Salt, and eaten fastyng doth defend that day from the Pestilence or poison put Honie to it, and it helpeth the bityng of Dogges, layed vpon the woūd. The oyle of nuttes with Hony, or the grene nutrindes wil kyl the Canker, to anoynt the place, and also bryng haire, and defend baldnesse.

Fylberdes be good of digestion, not good to be eaten before meat, Filberdes are good after. meate and doth help the reume. for then they be not a lytle noysome to the lunges and head. Notwithstandyng if they bee rosted and eaten with a lyttle Peper or Aster, then they shalbe com­fortable to help a moist reume. Stamped with Hony and Hysop water, thē they be good for old coughes. Walnuts. There is a good oyntment made of smal nuts and Beeres grease, for to anoint a bald head to bring haire, Galen affyrmeth that they be more cold and earthly than the Walnuts. To heale a prycke. Diocles sayth they do lesse nourish than the Almonds, how be it the greene be more holsome than [Page] the dry. There is a comen medicine made of Hassell nuts, or Filberdes, the iuyce of Dittany and blacke Sope stamped together, and this will drawe forth a prick fixed within the flesh. And these Nuttes be tollerable after fish, to dry vp moyst matter & the Greekes call them Karia pontica, because they came first from Portus, & now be almost in all the places of this Worlde.

Almondes sweete & bit­ter.Almondes: the bitter Almondes, their Rootes sodden, the decoction of them will clense the Face from spots. Bitter Almondes stamped with oyle of Roses and Uinegar, wil asswage the paynes of the forehead to anoynte the Head, Almondes to help the by­ting of a Dog Temples, or Forehead therewith. Tempered with Hony & Rue, they make a good plaster for the byting of a mad Dogge, and the reason is this, the plaster is very hoat, and the byte of the Dogge is colde with Me­lancholy. The oyle of bitter Almondes is holsome for many thinges, as to warme the body, stomacke, Matrix &c. and to poure into the eare to help them which be deafe, if it be curable. Bitter Almondes be hoatter then the sweete, they clense the guts, Lyuer, & Stomack, and draw foule humours from the Lunges, Almonde mylke, the vertue therof. sayth Galen. lib. 7. simplic. medic. Almond mylke wyl clense skower, and cut grosse humours, & may be made in the decoction of Hens, Partrige, or Chycken, to strengthen nature, or with cold herbes, as Sicho­ry, Endyue, Uiolets. &c. to quench choller, & to reconcile sleape. To clense y ^e raynes, stampe Almondes in cleane washed Uenyce Terebintine, and eate it, both for the Collike, Strangury and the Stone: eate Almondes before meate and drinke, if you be afrayde of drunkennesse: quench Golde, Syl­uer, Steele, Flynt, or any of them in Almonde Mylke, wherein is put the pouder of Ryce, and it wyll stop a flixe to drynk the same. Many great ver­tues be wrytten of Almondes, Gum of Al­mondes stop­peth the Flix. as Dioscorides libro primo. cap. 139. &c. The gum of Almondes sleeped in Wyne and drunk, helpeth the Flix or spitting of bloud, so will gum of Cheryes.

Nux vomica to vomit how to do it.There is a Nut called Nux vomica, whych if it bee stamped and eaten by it selfe, or els with a little Salt, or Oximell simplex. ʒ.j. it prouoketh vomits of choller and flegme. And mingled wyth Hony, the seede of Fenell, Dill, & warme Water, it maketh a most holsome vomit for a foule stomacke, but beware yee take no more than. ʒ.j. for then it is most perillous to nature or lyfe. Dog leches. With this Nut and Helleborus Albus, many dogge Leches do put the ignorant people in daunger of their lyues. As of late one called Edwardes, a doltish impericke, came to Newcastell, and had like to haue killed Cutbert Blunt, Edwardes the imperike. Cutbert Blunt. a gentleman of the same towne, who through drinking of the Sy­rups of Uyolets, Quinces, and Mintes, was happely recouered, and after through infortune finished hys carefull Lyfe in London, being Prysoner in the Fleete. Anno. 1660.

The Nutmegge or Muske Nut most odoriferous, pleasaunt, and sweet, vsed in many Cordials and holsome receites agaynst coldnesse, Nutmeg, or muske nut, haue many singuler ver­tues agaynste colde. and cometh from the hoat Countrey of Inde, from an Ilande called Badan, and is in­closed wyth Maces, as with a Nutshall, which Maces is a spyce most hol­some: the cloue is not the stalke whereupon this worthy Nut doth grow: the Mauritanians affirme that they bee hoat in the seconde degree. The olde Wryters speak but little of this Nut, it is proued to be good against winde, collike, flegme, weake digestion▪ vomits, headache, coldnesse of the Lyuer, [Page 65] cardiakes, stopping of the splene, Dropsy, swellinges, bloudy Flixes: it com­forteth the Synewes, muskles, & Ueynes of colde, or olde people: maketh sweete breath, putteth away trimbling of the heart▪ and is holsome to bee beaten in pouder, and tempered wyth oyle of Myntes, and to anoynte the forehead and temples agaynst coldnesse of the head, or dulnesse of memory, and is holsome in plasters for the stomacke, quilted in Leather and Sylke: good in stewed brothes, for them which be long sicke, and the Oyle is com­fortable for colde Stomackes: Nutmegs not good for hoat cōplexio­ned men. but Auicen speaking a little of the Nutmeg saith, it is euel for a Sanguine man to vse it, because it will adust the bloud, (and make one appeere with a face as though he had a visor of Currall) be cause of the drynesse: so to conclude, the Nutmeg is the fruicte, the Mace the flower, or Rose that doth enclose it, the Cloue is the smale Stalke that beareth it, as they say. But Cinamon is a nother maner of Barke. Sinamon. Diosco­rides sayth there be diuers kyndes of Cinamon whych are hoat, and dry of nature in the third degree, and help the stopping of y ^e Lyuer, Dropsy, Flixes, and all the paynes of the Guts, Lunges, and breast, & cause a sweete breath, and are holsome in blanch pouder or soppes. Cloues come from Inde, and grow lyke nayles vpon Trees, and be hoat and dry, and odoriferous, Cloues. and be good agaynst colde.

What say you of Fraxinus, the Ashe tree?

THis tree is commonly knowen, Fraxinus the Ashe tree. whose leaues being stamped or sod­den in Wyne, do heale the stinging of serpentes. Plinie sayth, y ^e leaues of Ashe trees be deadly to beastes, but that should seeme to be erro­niously spoken of Plinie, because we see the contrary: but there is an herbe whych hath leaues like Ashe leaues called Ditten▪ Ditten. of which Matthiolus ma­keth mention in his comment vpon Dioscorides, which herb is good for man agaynst poyson, Wormes and swellings, but no beast dare eate thereof. And I suppose Plinie ment this Dittany, whych I haue proued to be good agaynst the Tympany of Water. I haue proued it at Tinmouth Castle, where plenty doth grow vpon the Rockes. But to conclude of the Faxin, or Ashe tree, the leaues being sodden with the Oyle of S. Ihons grasse and Terebintine are good agaynst Cuttes, sores, and open woundes to glewe, To help bro­ken booes or draw them together agayne: they also be good wyth Consolida, Comphe­rie, Beane meale, & oyle of Myrtes, to lay vpon broken Benes. To helpe the Splene. And y ^e kayes of Ashe tree sodden in Wyne, Citrach, fresh Capers, and Sugar, are good to drynke to diminishe the swelled Splene, and of nature are colde and dry in the seconde degree.

What say you of Populus, called the Popler tree?

THere is the white and the blacke Popler, Populus the Popler tree. whych bee colde and dry in the third degree. Of the Popler is made the goodly Vnguent called Populeon. The Iuyce of the Leaues bee wholsome to bee dropped in­to the hoat stopped Eares. The Popler young Buddes, incorporate wyth [Page] cleane Hony and Rosewater, be holsome to asswage the paines of the eyen, comming of heate. And the Iuyce of the bark sodden in red Wyne, wil stop a bloudy Flix. and the Sciatica: reade further. lib. 1. Dioscorides. Cap. xciij.

What say you of Brome called Genista?

THe Brome, and the Whin or Furre Bushe be hoate and dry in the se­cond degree: Brome. ad the seede will prouoke vomits, cleanse filth in the sto­macke, and kill Wormes. The Iuyce tempered wyth Staphisagry, oyle of Wormewod & Aloes, To kyll Lyce. wil kil Lyce. The oyle of Brome wil heale a Tetter.

What is the vertue of the Ienuper?

Ienuper DIOSCORIDES is his first booke Cap. 87. sayth, there are .2. kindes of Ienupers, or bigger than the other both sower or tart of taste, hoat of nature, mouing vrine, Serpentes wil flee from the smoake thereof. Ienuper beries be holsome to clense y ^e Sto­macke, Ienuper wyll driue away Serpents. help the coughe, inflations, and the torments of the belly. There is a precious Oyle made of Ienuper to warme the synewes and comfort the head, being ouercome with colde. Ienuper beries be holsome to put in me­dicine agaynst the Pestilence, & byting of Serpents. Plinie in the laude of Ienuper sayth, Ienuper was the bea­mes of Dia­nas Temple. Plinie. lib. 16. Cap. 40. that the beames in the riche temple of Diana of Ephesus, were made of Ienuper, the whych remayned many hundred yeares vnperished, vntill the burning of y ^e same. The Chemistes or Distillars of Waters, make their ardent hoat Fyres of Ienuper.

What vertue is in Hypocistis?

Hiposistis. HYpocistis is colde and dry in the second degree. Galen sayth, lib. vij simplic▪ medicamentorum. Cistus is a binding fruicte, the leaues and. small buddes do dry and bynde and glewe Woundes together: Hipocistea wil stop blod. but the flowers be of most effect. Drunk in Wyne they are good against the bloudy flix, or weakenes of the belly: and also for Women, that haue to mutch red fluxe menstruall. And wyth Sanguis Draconis and Bosear­men, wyth the whyte of an Egge, it wyll stop a bloudy Wounde.

What say you of the Pomgranet, and Balaustia, Lymondes, & Oringes?

Malum Punicum the Pomgarnet.EMplasters made of Pomgranets, bee good against hoat Feuers: the Wyne of Pomgranettes, is good to comforte the Stomacke after meate. There are two kyndes of theym, the sowre, and the sweete the sowre bee colde, Balaustica the flower of Pomgarnete which wyll stoppe a flixe. and dry in the seconde degree, but the sweete bee colde and moyst in primo. And thys Fruicte is called Malum punicum, the flowers be called Balaustium, of the Wylde Pomgranet whych flower hath [Page 66] vertue to stop flixes, by the reason they be colde and dry, and slipticke of na­ture, and very good to be put in Clisters and in the drinke of them, which haue Disenteria, or Tenasmus. The sower Limondes are cold and dry, Limondes Orynges. but the sweete are warme, the tindes are al dry. And Limondes are good in Wine and do resist poyson: Oringes are weaker of nature, and are cold and dry.

What is Cubebes, I pray you of nature?

THey be hoat in the begynning of the thyrd degree, Cubebes haue goodly vertue agaīst melancholy. and bee good to clense the breastes and bellies, of rawe flegmatike persons, which be full of grosse humours. They help the splene, and coolenesse of the Guts: wyth Mastike they will draw filth from [...]. And wyth Balme Water, there is nothing better agaynst Melancholy trem­bling of the hart, and the falling euill. And these Cubebes bee vsed in many goodly medicines.

What say you of Figges?

FIgges be of diuers sortes, but hoat in the first degree, Figges wyll [...]ipe apostu­mes, best of al fruictes and are wholsome to be eaten. and dry in y ^e second: and be full of maturity or ripenesse, and will open y ^e poares, cause sweete breath, breede Lyse, by the reason the foule humoure is clensed through the skin by them. Relaxe the belly, and sodden in Wyne with Hysop, strayned and drunke, help the throat, lunges, and olde rotten coughes. Figges be good agaynst Melancholy, and the Falling euill, to be eaten. Figges, Nuts, and herb Grace, do make a sufferent medicine against poyson, or the pestilence. Figges make a good Gargarisme to cleanse the throate, and stamped with Shomakers ware, wyll heale an vlcer. Figges will ripe hard apostumacions, of y ^e plague sore: Snayles, Swynes grease and Figges, wyth Beane flower stamped together, Figges hea­le vlcers. and warme applyed to a sore swelled throat, will ripe it, and help Angina. The Wyne of the de­coction of Figges, is wholsome to be drunk agaynst bruses, or falles. Figs be fruict most worthy and commendable to mans nature, both inwardly in meat to clense the bloud beyng also a goodly Medicine: Figges bee both meate and medicine. and outwardly in wholsome plasters, to ripe an hard Apostumacion or sore: by the reason they will warme, and make the skin thin. And thus I do end of Figges.

What say you of the Mulbery?

GALEN. lib 7. simplicium medicamen [...]orum sayth, Morus the Mulberie. the ripe sweete Mulbery will somwhat relaxe, but the Tarte vnripe will re­strayne and stop the belly: so it is then of nature relaxing and binding. The Barke of the Mulbery tree roote sodden in Wa­ter, to drinke that Water doth resolue the belly, Dioscorides. lib. cap. 143. the leaues stamped with Uinegar do heale scalding, or burning, to anoynt the place therewith. Tricoctus called the Medler, Mespilus. or Mespilus hath vertue also to restrayne, stop, and coole.

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What is Sebesten good for?

Sebesten will helpe Struma SEbesten and Iuiubes be good to helpe the griefe in the throate called Struma if they be sodden in sweete water, Meede, or in the decoction of Lyquo­rice and Figges. And they be both of a temperate heate and moystnesse, v­sed in many medicines.

What say you of Leuen?

Leuen dissol­ueth harde thinges, and maketh theym soft.LEuen called Fermenrum, is hoat and moyst, and will quickly dissolue a hard apostumation: and if it be stamped with Figges it will speedely rype and draw. And Leuen is wholsome to help the pricke within the flesh or Synewes, made lyke a Cerote.

What say you of Ceruse?

Ceruse tooleth inflamed soresIT will scoure, and is vsed among the Chirurgians, for to quench hoat vl­cers: it hath vertue to dry, and is colde & dry in the seconde degree.

What then of Licium?

Licium. LIcium is very subtle, drying and penitrating: and of nature is colde and stiptike.

Wherefore is Litarge good?

GALEN remembring Spuma argentj: sayth Lytharge doth dry, as other medicines do, Galē. lib. 9. simp. medica. that be made of Mettell, Stone, or any other earthly thing, of a stronge faculty, and is vsed in sundry linementes, agaynst hoat burning Ulcers. Litarge. And is naturally colde and dry, and is tryed out of Sande, called Molybdis. Looke Dioscorides. lib. 5. Capt. lxiij.

What say you of Galanga, and Cost?

Galanga. GALANGA is hoat and dry in the thirde degree, and biteth as Gynger doth vpon the tongue, wyth burning like Peper, and wil take away coldnesse of the breast, heart, guts, matrix and raynes: drunke wyth Planten water, it stoppeth the bloudy flixe, and strengtheneth nature, Ciperus. comforteth the braynes, and trembling of the heart. Ciperus, which is called Aspalathum, is very sweete, and of the nature of Galanga, and is called wilde Galanga, but it doth more vehemently expell the termes being drunke: the rootes be like Ginger. Coste is diuritike, hoat and warme, and resisteth Uenime.

What say you of Iris, called Ireos?

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IRIS is so called, because of similytude of the Raynebowe, Ireos. and is commonly knowen: it is called the flower Delice, hoat, and dry in the ende of the thirde degree. And is of two kindes, Garden, To resolue. and Fielde Ireos: and it will resolue, soften, and open, and is put in mollifying Cerotes, with grease of Duckes, Capons, Hens, and Geese, and the Pou­der of Flaxe, Beane meale, Holioke, and Waxe accordingly. Ireos pouder tempered with Hony, and therewith a conuenient Pessary made, is good to drawe forth the dead chylde. It is holsome for Struma, or swelling in the throate, in lynamentes. And the Pouder thereof wyll heale a Fistula, or a rotten Ulcer. Uinegar, Oyle of Roses, and Ireos, sodden & strayned, To couer a bone with fleshe. put thereunto Hony of Roses, and it will couer a naked place, whereas y ^e fleshe is gone from the Bone, and will quickly couer it agayne with fleashe. The whyter it is, & the meaner it is, the better: Plinie doth not a little commend it libro .xx. for oyntments, so do Aetius lib. xiij. cap. iiij. but not inward in me­dicines.

What say you of Peper?

PEper cōmeth from Inde, Peper. the blacke groweth vppon clusters lyke to little blacke Ienuper Beries: Some growe in Huskes, & both the white Peper, long Peper, and blacke Peper be all hoat in quar­to, and dry in the seconde: the long is most byting, because it is ga­thered before it bee rype, therefore it hath still the hoat humour. The black is perfit ripe, and is wholsome: the whyte is sweetest, but weakest of theym three. Peper is vsed in sundry medicines, and in meate agaynst coldnes: Peper dissol­ueth & consu­meth moyst humours. it draweth dissolueth, and consumeth moyst humours, and dryeth theym, and helpeth an Agewe, being drunke many tymes, specially before the Fit. Grose Peper will helpe digestion, and neuer hurt the Lyuer. There is a goodly Dia made of the three Pepers, called Dia trion Pipereon, which hath greate vertue against horsenesse, stopping of the lunges, and colde Reumes.

What say you then of the three Sanders, haue not they the same vertue, that the three Pepers haue?

NO sir, for y ^e Sanders be Wood, or a Tree called Santalum, The three kindes of Sanders. of three kyndes: the pale, the whyte, and the red, cold in the seconde de­gree. And all these be holsome to stop flixes, and woundes: and with Rosewater, Saunders be holsome, to be applied to y ^e fore­heade in a clothe, with a peece of a Rose cake, to aswage the hoat burninge paynes in the forehead. Sanders be holsome in Drynkes, to be gieuen to quench a hoat Feuer. Temper the Iuyce of Solanum, and Purssen, Sanders do [...] coole the head and reconcile sleepe & helpe the Gout. wyth Saunders, and the oyle of water Lyllies, and anoynte the raging Goute therewyth, and the paynes wyll vanishe away, through the vertue thereof Auicen in libro de viribus Cordis, affirmeth Sanders bee put in sundry good [Page] medicines, against the trembling of the heart. I noble Dia is made thereof, called Di [...]trion Santalj.

What say you of Cardamomum?

Graynes of Paradice cal­led Cardamo­mum. CARDAMOMVM, is a precious spice, called the graine of Paradice, growing in Arabia Foelix: the best be the heauiest and sharpest, bitter of tast in the mouth, with a pleasaunt verdure, flening vp into the head, or Pallet of the mouth: these be hoat of nature, and to be drunke agaynst the falling sicknesse. Cardamomū helpeth the Faling sick­nesse. Sciatic [...], Cough, resolution of the Synewes, Ruptures, paynes in the b [...]lly, and kill Wormes in the Belly, and prouoke Uryne. A dragme drunke to Wyne, with as mutch of the barke of Laurus, breaketh y ^e stone: the common graynes be nigh hande as good, and are hoat and dry.

What say you of Laurus, called the Baie?

IT hath bene in great estimation, since Tyberius Caesars tyme, which was crowned with Bayes: it signifieth victory, and is of a fiery nature. For example, cast two dry Baie stickes ouer eche other, and cast a little pouder of Brimstone betwene them, and eftsoones fire will flame forth. Meruey­lous things be written of the Bay tree: reade Theophrastus. lib. 4. Cap. viij. Galen. lib. 7. simplic, medic. sayth, the Baie tree leaues and beries, do dry, and warme vehemently: Laurus called the Bay. Agaynst the stone. the more they be bitter, the more they are adstrictyue. They will breake the stone, and are good for a colde Lyuer, drunk in strong Wyne. ʒ.j. yet they are euill for Women wyth chylde. The berry is hoatter then the Leafe, and the Oyle is holsome agaynst colde Agues, and goodly plasters be made thereof.

THe children of Israell, in their hunger had Manna falling from Heauen, during their passage in the Wildernesse: and after their comming ouer the Ryuer of Iordan, they were fed no more therewith. And as I do heare say, there is a certayne Manna, whych our Apothecaries do sell, to delicate persons, to quench the heat of choller, and purge their bloud wythall.

Manna. Exod. xvj. Sapi. xvj. Psalm. 78. Ihon. 6. THE children of Abraham, Isaac, and Iacob, were fed by the prouidence of God: because he [...] was their God, and they his owne people. Hee prouided for them by myracle, because they should loue hym, and honour hym aboue all earthly thinges, for feeding them with heauenly Breade, called Manna, whych as the holy Wryters affirme, was y ^e Spirituall foode, euen Iesus Chryste: wyth whych the true faythfull Chrystians, are most comfortably nourished within the blessed sacrament of Chrystes body, whych is our redemption, once bodyly offered on the Crosse, & daily in the congregation of y ^e faithful, spiritually mynistred in the holy Sacraments, vntil th'end of y ^t World according to his promise. [Page 68] But thys Manna, which we do vse in bodyly medycine, is a sweet lyquour, whych doth still from the Ayre, in the tyme of the Canicular dayes▪ Manna of Calabria. fallyng vpon Trees, Braunches. Herbes, Flowers, and Stones. &c. Some Man­na commeth from the Orient, and other from Calabria, whych is sweet, light and in small graynes, mutch lyke vnto Mastike. Manna of the Ashe tree in Italy. There is a Citty in Cala­bria called Coslentia, and the Ashe trees about the same once a yeare in the Canicular dayes, haue great plenty of Manna hanging vpon them. There is but little dyuersity betwene Manna and Teryniaben, but that thys is lyke drops of Hony, and wyll quenche heate, purge bloud, and relaxe the belly, & Manna wyll do the same, and is whyte and cleare lyke gum. And yet these two do descend from heauen. Galen, Plinie, and Theophrastus, remembrynge Manna, say: that in one time of Summer, there is Hony rayning from hea­uen vpon trees. &c. At which tyme, the Husbande men play, and singe, The great vertue of Manna for mankynde. say­ing: Iupiter rayneth Hony, Iupiter Melle pluit. This Manna is holsome for to clense the breast, lunges, raynes. &c. And of nature is hoat▪ temperate, and moyst, and the more it is to be lamented, by false craft it is sophisticated, or it cōmeth hether. And when it cōmeth into England, it is but little helped a­mong some Apothicaries: and this Manna with Cassia is holsome to purge: and you may receyue Manna Simple. ℥.ij. in your drynke, or eate it lyke bread in the morninge, or at noone: it is most delicious, and pleasaunt to tender Folkes. Chyldren may eate. ℥.i. at once, and young Babes in their milke, may receyue. ʒ.ij▪ss.

What say you of Suger of the Cane?

DIOSCORIDES remembring Suger. lib. 2. cap. 75. sayth, Suger of the Cane. there be Reedes in Arabia, in whych is a thinge contayned like Salt, & breaketh in the mouth lyke Salt, and is both pleasaunt, and good to the Belly & stomacke: deluted or steeped in water if it be drunk, it helpeth the raynes. And Suger is good to clense the darknesse of y ^e eyen. Suger is vsed in most Sirupes, and Iuleps, Manus Christi. &c. Suger cannot be spared in bankets, or garnishment of feastes: Although Suger cannot be simply made, from the panell, or sande, whych cometh from the Cane, wythout some arte, yet there is much craft in it, by sophisticacion, to make it trim to y ^e sale, sweete and pleasaūt, lyke Muske to the mouth more pleasaunte, than profitable. But the cleane clarifyed Hony, Hony is more excellent than Suger to preserue. doth excell for health the Suger, specially the Hony of Athens, where as the Bees feedeth most vpon tyme. Sugar Candy is good for the Lunges.

What say you of Spiknard?

SPiknard is odoriferous, pleasant & sweet, comfortable to the brayne, & synewes, and warmeth ech part of the body being cold, Spicknard of Spaine▪ help [...]th [...]he bray [...] & is good to bee drunk against y ^e falling euill, Collicke, Flix, Cardiaca▪ Dropsies, & Hickit, & it wil increase hayre, y ^e pouder being tempered with Hony to anoynt y ^e place. [Page] Spicknard beaten into pouder tempered with the Waters of Fenell, For sore eyes to help them. Ro­ses, and Eyebright, putting a little Lapis tutia and Aloes Epatike, standing all the night together, and strayned in the morning▪ this dropped into dimme eyes, wyll comfort, scowre, and strēgthē the sight. And of nature it is hoat in the fyrst degree, and dry in the seconde. And thus I do end of Spica Nar­di, whereof there be two kindes, one of Syria, and the other of Inde. Reade more thereof. Dioscorides. libi 1. Cap. 6.

What is the nature of Caphura, commonly called Campher?

Caphura cal­led Campher, a gumme of a great tree of Iude. IT is a Gum of a tree of Inde, whose bignesse, & breadth of the braūches be so large, that a. C. men or more, may be shadowed vnder the same: this tree groweth neere the sea syde, and the people of Inde do couer theymselues from the heate of the Sunne vnder the shadow of the same. There was a certayn kyng among them called Riach, Riach founde first Campher which found out the worthy vertue of thys Gum, and from the base coullour thereof did by arte change it into shining whytnesse, whych is the best Campher, all the other is but base and of small estimation. Some also say that Cam­pher is a heauenly influence, Sundry opy­nions of Campher. cast downe by the violence of thunder, and lightning, and is gathered out of the earth like vnto Sulpher or Brimstone, although it be by the iudgements of Serapio and Auicen cold and dry in the third degree, and cōmeth from the Meridian part of the World: but there is mutch craft and sophistication of the Campher, through the craft & sub­tilty of straungers before it is brought into the Realme. But if you wyll know good Campher, Howe to know good Campher. do thys, take a new Manchet hoat from the Ouen and cut it a sunder in the middes, then put in the Campher and cloase the loafe loose together, then if the Campher do cast a moystnesse, it is the best argument to proue it to be good Campher, but if it remayne dry like vnto earth, then it is false, and counterfait: good Campher wyll burne vppon Snowe, and also in Water, it ought to be kept close, couered about wyth Flax seede, Pepper, or sutch lyke, for by it selfe it wyll waste away quickly: it is put in many goodly oyntments to quench the heat that is aboue na­ture & to extinguish carnall Lust, Campher wyll quench nature. as to temper it with the Iuice of Night­shade, Uinegar, and water Lillyes, then to anoynt the Testicles or priuye partes, and this shall quench the heat of nature: it wil also reconcile sleap, to make an oyntmēt with Rose water, Oyle of water Lillyes, & Womans Mylke, To cause fleape. and to annoynt therewith the Temples▪ and Foreheade. Planten water and Campher, wyll stop the bleeding at the nose: it is put in goodly oyntmēts to clense y ^e spots from the face, & the filth from the skin: it preser­ueth the eyes frō blindnes tēpered wyth medicines accordingly. It stop­peth the running of y ^e Raines & white Fluxes passing from Womē, To stop the whites & run­ning of the Raynes. drunk with the Iuyce of water Lillyes: it is good agaynst y ^e Pestilence, & finaly it wyll preserue a dead body from stincking putrifaction. And thus I end of Campher called Caphura. Vitex called Agnus Castus is also of the Na­ture of Campher, Agnus Castus or Vitex for chastity. to dry vp the seede of Generacion, but in complexion as [Page 69] Galen sayth, it is hoat and dry in the thirde degree, bitter of taste and byn­ding Reade Galen therof. lib. 24. cap. 9. And Dioscorides the fyrst booke the. 116▪ Chapter of the nature of Agnus Castus doth greatly laude it for y ^e syn­gular vertue, being so goodly an instrumēt for chastity. And how the Wo­men of Athens that professed chastity did straw the Leaues thereof about their Beds. And thus I do end of Agnus Castus, that is to say, chaste

What is the nature of Sulpher, called Brimstone?

SVLPHER called Brimstone, Sulpher or Brimstone. is hoat and dry in the fourth de­gree: with this Sulpher, and fyre, God plaged the People of So­dom, and Gomor, for their abhominable Sinnes against Nature. Su [...]pher is one of the simples put into the receypt of Gunpouder, wherewyth God by his instruments hath plaged the proude World with, through mercilesse Gunnes, Sulpher is found in diuers partes of y ^e worlde, as in vaynes of the Earth, Welles, Pittes, aswell in the colde partes of Iseland, as in the hoat partes of Inde. Of a sulpherous humour it is pre­supposed that the waters of the Bathes heere in England haue their con­tinuall warmnesse. Also in Italy in the fielde Senensis, Bath springe came from a vayne of Brimstone. vpon y ^e mountaines not farre from the warme Bathes of S. Philip, is mutch Brimstone foūde, therefore it is none errour to say that the hoat Bathes haue their originall spryng of Brimstone. Sulpher hath vertue to dry vp Scabbes being tem­pred wyth fasting spittle, Uinegar, and Swynes grease. It also helpeth Leprous, Scabbes, and Poxes, being sodden in Oyle Debay, and sharpe Uinegar. And Galen sayth, that it doth resist the venom of Serpentes. To clense scabbes. Notwythstanding through the heate thereof it wyll exulcerat, if it be not corrected. And thus I end of Brimstone, the whytest & clearest is the best.

Hetherto haue I not remembred the noble Rose, wyth his singular ver­tues, I pray you shew mee the nature of the same?

DIOSCORIDES wryting vpon the Rose. The Rose, a friend to the brain, & eye [...]. lib. 1. Cap. 112 sayth that the Rose is colde, and bynding, and is friend­ly vnto the eyes. Roses being fyrst dryed in the shadow, and sodden in Wyne, the same lyquor is good for y ^e paines in the heade, Eyes, and eares, Oyle of Ro­ses for y ^e head. the places to be washed or annoynted therewyth. The Oyle of Roses is of a syn­gular vertue to bee put in Linementes, for to coole hoat burning Ulcers, inflamations, and sutch like, because it will resolue, & al­so extinguish, & comfort woundes in the head, through any stripe or fall. And of this Galen doth remembre lib. x. simplic. medic de sanguine. There is a precious oyntment of Roses called Vnguentum Rosarum, whose vertue is to extinguish the heate of the Raynes of the backe, and it reconcileth sleepe for to haue the Temples, and Forehead anoynted therewith, if it be made sweete and white according to Arte.

There are sewe Cordials can wante the helpe of Roses, and Rose water. [Page] And as Dioscorides sayth, when the Rose is pulled from the bushe, the whi­test must be cut away from the red wyth a payre of Sheeres, whych red leaues must be dryed, preserued, or stilled to the vse of medicine. There bee dyuers and sundry kyndes of Roses, as the red Rose, the whyte Rose, and the prouince Rose, Sundry kin­des of Roses all of great vertue. whych is excellent in medicine, and most pleasant to be smelled vpon, comfortable to the Brayne, and Heart: among all Flowres none excelleth the prouince Rose for his manyfolde vertues: as agaynst y ^e trembling of the heart, dimnesse of sight, frensies, lacke of sleepe, corrupti­on of the Ayre, heate aboue Nature, Flixes. &c. Of Succus rosarum is made the most excellent electuarie to purge choller with all. The waters of Roses excelleth all other waters, if they be purely stilled. Read Plinie the 21. lib. cap. 4. whych wryteth most copiously of the natures, shapes, & ver­tues of Roses. The more leaues that Roses haue, the preciouser they bee. The best Roses of the World do grow in Italy, The best Ro­ses be in Italy. and Fraunce. The Roses of England bee not mutch inferiour vnto theym. The little yellow tuftes growing within the Roses, finely beaten into pouder, be holsome to stanch bloud, to kill Wormes, to clense the Canker in the mouth, and to take Pol­lipus from the Nose. There be also many wylde stinking Roses, as Theo­phrastus maketh mention. lib. 6 cap. 6. de historia Plantarum. There is also Ro­sa Solis which is distilled to make a water compounded to preserue nature withall: and thus I do end of this precious flower called the Rose, which the Arabians for the excellent sweetnesse thereof▪ doth call Narde.

What is the nature of Alum?

Alum. DIoscorides doth remember the same in his .5. booke, the 22. cap. say­ing it cōmeth out of Aegypt, founde where as mettals do grow, & in many other places, as in Melo, and in Macedonia: also there is great plenty thereof in Italy, whych is most whyte and cleare, it is hoat and dry in the fourth degree, and is very holsome in the cure of Can­kers: Alum for the Canker. and if it bee sodden wyth Planten water, it helpeth vlcers y ^t seeme incurable: sodden wyth Hony and Uinegar alone, it will stablishe & make fast teeth. Alum doth cleanse & scoure, & is vsed in many medicines: brunt alone, Burnt Alum consumeth flesh. maketh Corosiues to corode, consume, & take away dead flesh: you may reade more thereof in Galen. lib. 4. simpli. medica. of y ^e vertue of y ^e clen­sing, and the scowring. Alum is profitable in euery common wealth, where as good clothes be made.

What is the nature of Quickesiluer?

THere is mutch variety wheather it should be hoat or colde in the .4 degree, Quicksiluer or Mercury. but it should seeme rather to be hoat, by reason it doth dis­solue and pearce: it hath vertue to consume, and it is perillous to be vsed in oyntments to kill scabbes with all, for it is percing, and subtill, that at length it will come into the inwarde partes, where as fi­nally it will mortify and kill. It is founde in Minerals of Syluer, and is a destroyer of other mettals. Wyth this Quickesiluer and Sal Armoniake, [Page 70] is made Mercury sublimate, whych must bee kept in a close vessel, Mercury sublimate. adusted in a Ouen, or burnt vntill it come to the couler of whyte Suger, whych Mercury sublimate is vsed of Chirurgians for to cleanse foule vlcers and soares, and is a poyson inwardly to be taken, except with al speede after the same a vomet be taken of Oyle or Azarabaccha. If Quickesiluer bee taken inwardly, it is also pearillous, and nothinge better to helpe it, than to drinke Wormewood wyne with the seede of Clary boyled therein. Mar­ueylous thinges be done by meanes of Quicksiluer as the Chimistes doth know, and yet for all that wee see little Golde multiplied thereby. Thus to conclude, Quicksiluer may bee conueniently ministred in oyntmentes, to heale the Pox.

I pray you what is the nature of Atramentum, of the Minerall?

It is a naturall Corosiue, and hoat and dry in the third degree. Atramentum.

What say you of vnslecked Lime, called Clax viua?

IT is hoat and dry in the third degree: vnslecked Lime, oyle of Roses, Calx vius Lime, helpeth rotten soares. y ^e Iuyce of Enulacampana and Uynegar, strongly beaten together in a lea­den Morter with putting in Terebintine: maketh an Oyntment whych will heale scabbes, infecting the Thighes, or Legges, and al rotten vlcers.

What is the nature of Uerdigreace?

IT hath vertue to consume superfluous flesh, Uerdigreace. and doth mundefie rotten humours, filthy vlcers, deepe stinking soares, and rebateth & consumeth proude flesh, and is the chiefe thing in Vnguentum Aegyptiacum, Vnguentum Aegyptiacum. for Uerdy­greace. Hony, Roche Alum, Wax, Oyle, and Uynegar, sodden together in a conuenient vessell, sturred together wyth a sticke till it come to a thyck­nesse, this oyntment is good Aegyptiacum whych hath the foresayd vertues, and is hoat and dry of nature.

What is the nature of Spodium?

SPodium is colde and dry, and tempered with Roche Alum, Spodium. it will heale vlcers, and Cankred matter in the mouth.

What is the nature of Minium?

MINIVM is vsed in dyuers linementes, and Cerotes, Minium and Cerusse, and by burning in the Furneis, it is made of Cerusse, and of nature is colde, and dry.

What is the nature of Uernishe?

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Uarnish.IT is good for Armorers, it hath vertue also to scower and clense soares, and woundes, and is hoat and dry in the seconde degree.

What is the vertue of Sope?

SMigma is called Sope. Sope cannot be forborne in any com­mon wealth, Smigma or Sope. for washing of Lynnen, and clensing of the Bo­dies of Men and Women, whych be defiled wyth sweate and filth, through trauell & labour. But it is perillous to be put in­to woundes, because it maketh separation: notwithstanding, it is hoat & dry, yet it doth neyther burne, nor adust. French Sope, Nighter, common Salt, French sope. ana. ℥.j. put in a little close stone vessell, with three spoone­fulles of Uinegar, let it stande in the Fourneys, vntill it be dryed. Thys is good to wash the heade, in a little Malmesy, wherein Azarabaccha hath bin sodden, agaynst al coldnesse, and dulnesse of y ^e Brayne. French Sope min­gled wyth the pouder of Elleborus Niger, called the roote of Beares foote, Uerdigreace, Litarge of Siluer and Golde, Tartar, and Quicksiluer cor­rected, beaten all together in a Leaden Morter wyth the Iuyce of house­like, and Stonecrop, maketh a goodly Oyntment to kill Tetters, blacke Morphew, Sope wyll kill Tetters. Ringwormes, Spots, and Melancholy, infecting the Skin. French Sope, Oyle of Roses, and the white of an Egge beaten together, are good agaynst scalding, or foule stinking Scabbes, or itch. It Sope bee applied in a Walnut shell to the Nauell of a childe, forthwith it wyll cause the vryne speedely to purge. Sope is vsed also among the emperikes, or vnlearned practicioners to be takē inwardly, to prouoke vrine & stoole: but thys practice is not to be cōmended. And thus I end of sope, called Smigma.

What say you of Leade?

Leade wyll coole▪ & helpe soares. GAlen. lib. 9. simpli. medica. sayth Leade to refrigerat and coole, it hath also humidite, and is a little earthly of nature, cold and moyst in the second degree, and is good agaynst foule cankred soares, and filthy vlcers, fistulaes, Emeroides. &c. thus washed. White or red Leade beaten wyth an Iron Pestill in a Leaden Morter pooring in oyle of Roses, Burnt leade. or Vnguentum Rosarum, labour it well, and then it will make a good oyntment for hoat burning soares, & will resolue y ^e hard­nesse of them. A plate of Lead is good to coole the burning of the raynes: Plumbum vstum burnt Leade wyth Brimstone, hath vertue to corrode and waste superfluous flesh.

Iron do mū ­difie & clense.Iron doth mundify mutch, and is colde and dry in the second degree, so is Scoria or Rubigo, called y ^e skales or rust of Iron, but more dryver: stamped in a Leaden morter, wyth Uynegar and oyle of Roses, it maketh a good coo­ling & drying oyntment. And the rust of Iron beaten fine and sodden with strong Uynegar is holsome to be dropped into soare running eares, reade Galen, lib. 9. simplici. medicam. Calebs, or Steele made hoat, quenched in red Wyne and drunke, doth stop the Flixe.

[Page 71] Spodium is cold and dry of nature, Spodium stop [...]peth bloud. blackish and heauy, tempered with O­libanum, sanguis draconis, and Beanemeale beaten in a Leaden morter, it will stop bloud. Spodium with Roch Alum, and strong Uinegar, beatē together, wyll kyll the Canker in the mouth. Spodium commeth from Furnaces of Brasse, or Copper Reade of this Dioscorides, lib. 4. cap. 46. and Galen, lib. 9. simplic. medic. Of Spodium and Pompholix, Cadmia. it is rather a kinde of Cadmia than Tutia, and is tollerable to put into Collyries for sore Eyene.

Golde, the most pure and vndefiled mettell, Golde y ^e most vndefiled, and pure mettel. not Leprosse which Sol hath digested by heauēly influence. This mettell is most rich. This gold is not more profitable to our worldly businesse, than holsome for medicines, speci­ally as Auicen sayth, for to put away Melancholy, and to make burninge actual cauteres of Gold is holsom, as if any filth be in the mouth, to burne the same wyth Golde is most best, so it is whan y ^e vvula is fallen: a Cau­tery of Golde is best, in medicens of Cordials. Gold put into Cordials. Golde is holsome to deau­rate, or gilde Losinges. And for the dimnesse of sore eyen, Golde is tollera­ble for thē in some Colories, & is good for Leproses: all Mettels will cor­rupt, when as Gold wyll remayne vndefiled. God graunt wee vse Golde as a seruaunt, but not as a Mayster, for then wee are bonde Slaues: for Gold wyll not helpe in the day of vengeance.

What say you of Salte?

WIthout Salte we lyue not, it is vsed commonly in our meates. Salt, what it is. Wyth Salt, Flesh, Fish, and many fruicts be preserued. The great Ocean Sea is Salt, through which Saltnesse the earth is kept from poyson, through the exhalacions, or vapour comming from it. Salt is of nature hoat and dry, Salt hath vertue to warme & dry. and hath vertue sayth Dioscorides lib. 5. cap. 85. to scoure, stop, warme, dry, and mundify, and defendeth from putrifaction, and is put into supposytories & Clisters to clense, wyth Hony & Uinegar: with Organ, and Hysop it maketh a good medicine agaynst stinging, or byting of Dogges, Snakes, Adders. &c. Salt, Uinegar, and Sugar sodden to­gether, maketh a good holsome drynke agaynst the drynking of Opium, or eating of the Moys [...]oms called Fungus. Salt is good agaynst the vlcers of the mouth, to burne Salt, and make it white, wash it once in Water, To dye Salt. poure­forth the water, and gather the Salt in the bottom, and put it into a stone vessell couered, and put it into the Ouen, & couer it with coales, and dry it, and so it may be vsed in medicine. Oribasius affirmeth Salt to be compoū ­ded of matter Abstersiue and stiptike, whych is matter bindinge, and dry­ing moyst humours: but salt is not good for leane persons, Salte not good for leane persons. it wyll make them seeme old, and mooueth anger to the Chollerike. Mutch salt is made in England, as of Sand and Salt water Pits, in Hollande in Lyncoln­shyre, and only by a marueylous humour of water, at the Wytch, far from the sea: and in y ^e North there is salt made, at the shiles by Tinmouth Ca­stle. I Bullein the author hereof haue a pan of salt vpon the same Water. At Blith in Northumberland is good salt made, Sir Ihon Delauall, a good knight. and also at sir Ihon De­lauals Pannes, whych syr Ihon Delaual knight hath bin a Patrō of wor­ship, [Page] and hospitalitie, most like a famous Gentleman, during many yeares: and powdreth no man by the salt of extorcion, or oppressing his neyghbour, but liberally spendeth his Salt, Wheat, and his Mault, like a Gentleman, I neede not put his name in remembraunce in my booke, for it shall lyue by immortall good fame, The flowe­yng of Salt at Nilus. when my poore booke shal be rotten, deare brother Marcellus.

There be also sundry kindes of Salt, among which there is a Salt flo­wing about the brinkes of that famous Riuer Nilus called Flos Salis, the flower of Salt, of a Saffron colour, of tast and sauour vnpleasaunt, whych Flos Salis is put into sundry Oyntmentes to heale soores about the priuye parts, or other places of the skin. In colliries it is tollerable for to clense sore eyen. And tempered with Vnguentum Rosarum, or other Ointmentes, it mo­ueth sweat to all the body, Sal Gemmae well rubbed with the same.

Sal gemmae, is a Salt of the earth, plenty is digged thereof in Calabria in a place called Altomonte, and is cut forth like stones most cleare Translucens, or through shinyng like to Chrystall, which if this salt be cast into the fier, it wil not cracke nor breake, but kepe styll whole, burnyng like Iron. Plinie ma­keth large mencion of Salte. lib. 21. cap. 7. saying that Salt is either grow­ing naturally in the Earth, Plinie of salt. or in veines of hilles. &c. or els made of Salte water sodden in Pannes, vnto a thycknesse, whereof common Salte is made.

Salt Armoniac is hoat and dry in the fourth degree. sayth the Pandact, say­ing that it commeth from Armoniac, and is made of Camels vryne: but it is called of the best writers Sal Ammoniacus, Sal armoniac. doth clense th skinne. that is found vnder y ^e sands in A­phrike neare vnto the Oracle of the God Ammon, and also in the regiō cal­led Cyrenaica, which salt is blacke without and whyte within like Alum, but not very bright, noisome to the mouth, but holsome in medicine, to clense the skinne, myngled with Campher and Rosewater tempered together and made warme: Salt of Inde Many and sundry Lotyons for Apostimacions and soores, he made with these saltes, and they must be mingled with other simples.

Sal Indus groweth in Inde, through the heat of the Sunne, vpon Reedes, which salt is mutch lyke Suger. With Suger and common salt, the Apo­thicaries do sophisticate and craftely counterfeit this Salt. Sal Niter. or Peter, for Gun pouder. Spuma nitri or Barach.

Sal Nitrum, or Saltepeeter. is digged in vaultes, flowers of houses, or walles, which Salte is white, whan this is prepared: thereof wyth other receiptes, as Cooles, Brimstone &c is Gunpouder made, whych doe shote of Gunnes, whych are the instruments of Gods wrath. And Spuma nitri, is is called Barach of the Arabians: Salt of Mare Mortuum. whereas So­dome stoode. Asphaltum. of these saltes read Dioscorides. lib. 5. cap. 86. Ga­len. lib xi. simplicium medicamentorum: further sayth Galen in the same booke, there is salt made of the water of Maremortuum, the dead sea, whereas So­dome and Gomor stodde, called Asphaltnm.

Salt of y ^e Earth is grosser, and more colder astringing, than the salt of salt water: but there is a salt called salte vpon salte, whych is very good to the vse of Man, so is Baie salt, whych through the Marche wynd is so made and fynished, which wyl contynue for euer lyke stone, beynge kepte close but [Page 72] yet Salt peter wyll grow therein at length: and thus I end of salt, which the Arabians call Mesha.

I Haue seene sundry saltes before this time: as white salt & Bay, Bay Salt. whych we do vse to pouder Flesh, and Fish wythall. I woulde your salt Peter had neuer bin knowen, whereby Gunnes do so mutch mischiefe, and y ^e no­ble state of Mankinde through them are decayed, Boies can kil the strongest men wyth Gunnes. yea through a very vile Coward or Boy, often the valiaunt man is slayne & cast away, But Hila­rius, I will a little more proceede in simples, and leaue Gunning matters, to the Men of Warre, or Seruitors to y ^e noble Prynces: now I pray you what is the nature of Spuma maris, and Fumus terrae?

THese are two cleane contrary simples, of .ij. sundry natures, the one of the land called Fumaria, Spuma maris Fumus terrae. an herbe ingendred of the Fume or vapour of the Earth, Dioscorides. lib 14. Cap. 105. in forme mutch like Coriander, and in couler like Ashes, purple flowers, bitter of taste, y ^e Iuyce will make cleane sore eyen, and thys Herbe drunke, Against stop­ping of the Splene. Fu­mitery doth preuayle. the Decoction thereof wyll purge choler by vrine. Fumus terrae, or Fumaria, is good agaynst the stopping of the Splene, Lyuer, Gaule, or Raynes, and doth make strong the Uentricles, through the drynesse, warmnesse, sharpnesse, & bitternesse, sodden in Wyne, stilled, or in syrupe, and so drunk. And so I do end of this Fumus called Cap­nos: but as for Spuma maris, the Fome of the Sea, it hath vertue to clense, Spuma maris doth make clene y ^e teeth▪ scowre, and, dry and is cold and dry in the third degree: it is good to rub the Teeth, to clense them: and the fyne pouder thereof wyth the white of an Egge, Rose water and Sief beaten together, put into the eyes, To clense sore eyen. doth clense them, and taketh away the Web: and thus I do ende of Spuma maris, or y ^e Stone whych the Scriueners do rub, and make cleane their Parchment wythall. What haue you els to say?

What say you of Spongia, the Sea Sponge?

GALEN. lib. 11. simplic. medic. sayth that they did vse Spon­ges to be a manuel instrument to receyue bloud, Sponge of the Sea. wherewith they vsed to wype and dry bloud in Woūdes: and also they do receiue thynges to stop bloud. A sponge is hoat in y ^e fyrst degree, and dry in the second, it is of a resoluing vertue. Sponge good for woundes. A sponge adust, or burnt not mutch, the pouder thereof wyll consume fleshe, whych is superfluous, and may be put in Woundes of the Head. Wyth a Sponge whych is soft, tentes for the heade may bee made. Wyth sponges sodden in Wyne, and Oyle of Capers it is good to washe, and chafe the left side: nothinge is better to anoynt the Stomacke for a Pleuresy than wyth a spong in warme Oyles, as of Myntes, Chamomel, Roses, the grease of Hens, Capons, and Duckes. Sponges new are good but olde are euill. Newe sponges are hol­some of them selues, & wyll heale woūdes, w ^tout any thyng put to thē. Old sponges be euil. Pitch & the Ashes of Sponges together, wyll stop bloud. [Page] A sponge sodden in Hony, will heale and resolue Woundes, and harde A­postumations, Sponge sto­nes do breake the stone. Reade more thereof Dioscorides, lib. v. cap. 96. and Aristotle of the nature of sponges, whych grow among the rockes of the Sea, and haue stones in them beaten in pouder, and drunke, wyll breake the stone in the bladder.

What say you of Corall?

THe Indians haue Corall in no leste estimation, than we haue their Diamondes and great Perles. Coral grow­eth [...]n y ^e Sea. Diosco. lib. 5. Cap. 97. calleth Corall Lethrodendron, whych is a braunch growinge in the bottome of the Sea, whych by certayne meanes is drawen forth, and soone turned into hardnes, and eftsones into a stone: we do see of this Coral great plenty of beades, more vaine glorious, Coral of two kyndes. than religious godly. Of Coral be two kyndes, y ^e red which is best, and white which of nature be cold and dry in the second de­gree, and be restrictiue and stopping. Coral beatē in pouder, myngled with Dragons bloud, To stoppe bloude. whytes of Egges, Bolearmeni and the Iuyce of Sheperds purse, Knot grasse, and Rabbets woll beaten in a Leadē Morter, will stop bloud. The pouder of Coral drunk wyth Wyne, prouoketh vrine, and wyll rebate the swelling of the Splene, and finally as Auicen sayth, doth com­forte the heart, Coral prouo­keth vryne, and helpeth digestion. The Pouder of Corall wyll cleanse woundes, in whom flesh superfluous doth remayne, and also heale y ^e same. What is beter to stop a bloudy flixe, called Dysenteria? it stoppeth both the flix of men, running from them in their sleape, and also the whites from Women. Reade more in Matthiolus vpon Dioscorides. lib 5.

What say you of Pearle called the Margarite?

The Marga­rit or Perle—good in Cor­dials.THe Pearle is not only riche and pleasant to behold, but also holsome and good in medicine. Plinie. lib. 9. cap. 35. sayth, that there be plen­ty of Pearles in Arabia, in the mouth of the Red sea, growing with­in the shelles, called the mother of Pearle, in whych they are conueyed: the vnion which is cleane, bryght, whyte, round, and heauy, is the richest. The pouder of Pearle is good to be put in cordialles, as Manus Christi, and the same pouder with the white of an Egge, will clense the eyes. About thys Realme many Pearles be gathered in Muscels, and other Shell fishe, but not the most orient.

Is there any vertue in Lapide lazulj?

THere is nothing better to purge Melancholy. There be Pilles called Pilulae de Lapide Lazulj, Lapis lazulj. againste olde Quartens, or Madnesse: thys stone is colde and moyst.

What say you of Saphyrus?

[Page 73] DIOSCORIDES affirmeth, Saphyrus resist poyson. this heauenly coloured pre­cious stone, is wholsome to be drunke against the stinging of Serpents, to resyst the poyson: and being drunke it hel­peth all exulcerations of the Guttes, and also is holsome for sore eyen, to cleare the sight. Many goodly vertues are belonging to the Saphyr, as chastity &c Yet it is not cold inough for the quenching of Venus They say the Turquois wyll kepe a man from fallyng, but it is a lye. The rich Hemerald, some saye, wyl declare whan the knot of Mariage is vndone, and than it wyll sepa­rate and break a sunder, and that were a perilous case to lose a good Iewel for an euil wife: Fables ga­thered. with many sutch folish old fables gathered out of some wri­ters which haue rather vnwittily reported, than truly proued the nature of stones so farre passing theyr natures, although they be of great vertue, and both pleasaunt and profitable to mankynd, and nothing vnder heauen more rich or costly.

IF the Emeraldes would so quickly breake or cracke whan sutch parts be played, I assure you there would be great losse in costly Iewels, and some separacion of friendship, but they be of mutch vertue and patience when sutch offences be committed, that they wyl tell no tales by breaking them selues: well let this matter passe, it is but to feare folkes withal, and I pray you what say you of Lapis Naxius, and the Iasper.

THe pouder thereof with Beares grease wyl increase hayre, Lapis naxi­us, helpeth to increase hayre. and kepe one from baldnesse. This stone wyl make smal a maydens Breastes, and defend them from growyng: if the pouder thereof with Uineger be drunke, it wyl consume the greatnesse of the Spleane. And this stone is good against the falling sycknesse. Iasper doeth comfort dige­stion. The Iasper is holsome to bee hanged a­bout the necke, downe to the mouth of the stomacke, for it is comfortable to the same sayth Galen, lib. ix. simplic. medicamentorum.

What then of Lapis Tucia, and Lincis.

IT is vsed in many vlcers, and foule stinking Cankers, Lapis Tutia and lapis Lincis. for through the coldnesse and drynes, it doth clense and incarnate foule sores: and this Tucia is most excellēt, if it be prepared, to be put into Col­liries to clense the eyen. What is better wyth Planten Water to clense the yard? Lapis Lincis, is hoat and dry, ingendred of the vryne of Lynx, and is good in pouder. ℈iij. to be drunk at once, or put into Cassiafistula. ℥.i. to consume the stone, and clense the Raynes.

What say you of the stone called Byzabar.

THe Arabians do call it Bizabar, whych Stone is precious, and resysteth Poyson, Bizabar [...] precious and is put into precyous Antidotaries whych preuayle agaynste [Page] all foule ayre, pestilence and venim. This stone is yellow wythout oder or smell: stone agaynst poyson. if it be hanged vpon the left arme, touching the flesh, it wil preuaile against the foresayd euils. looke Matthiolus lib. 5. Diosco. cap. 73.

What then of Lapis Phrygius?

GALEN lib. ix. simplic. medic. with this stone combust sayth he▪ I vse to help or clense stinking vlcers, Lapis Phrygius for sore eyen. and it hath the same Uertue that Lapis Pyrites hath. And of this stone, medicines be made for sore eyen, myn­gled with Colliries accordyngly. And thys stone called Pyrites looketh lyke Brasse, and wrapped in Hony, then put it in a small earthen Pot sutch as Goldsmithes do vse, Pyritis lapis. against proud flesh. and set it in the fyer blowyng vntyll it be red hoat so coule it: and this stone in pouder wyll clense scower, and consume flesh su­perfluous,

What say you of the Haematist?

Alexander Tralianus vpon the He­matist for the flixe.IT is cold and bynding of nature. Alexander Tralianus sayth, I haue often times without any Thyriaca or any precious medicine cured many, name­ly by the Haematist stone, for them that had the bloudy flix: and wyth the Pou­der of this stone, the iuices of Pomgarnets, and Knot grasse, myngled to­gether: of this. ℈.iiii. was his dose in this iuice for the flix.

What say you of Iette.

Ieta for the Mother.THereof is great plenty in England and Ireland, and at Whithe in the North: it hath vertue beyng drunk to clense the bladder: & burnt, the Smoke doth helpe theim whych swell and are in peryll wyth the Mother.

What say you of Lapis Magne?

The magnet stone. THe best is that whych wyl draw Iron or Ste [...]le to him: geuen three halfe peny weight in pouder tempered with sweete water, it wyll cast forth fylth and groose matter out of the body. Plinie sheweth. lib. xxxiiii. Cap. xiiij. that one builded a Temple, couered with this Magnes stone, wherein hys Image with pompe was brought in, which was made of Iron, which ascended by attraction, and did hang in the roffe; his name was Arsion. The Arabians and Mahumetans did in like case bryng in the steele Toumbe of maister Mahumet (theyr iuglyng false Prophet) into a Temple of Magnes stones, whose nature was to draw the sayd Toumb vp. But the best seruice that the Magnes doth, is in the Ship, for the compasse of sayling in true settyng the needle. Also in plasters the pouder thereof to draw forth Iron or prickes from the flesh.

What is the vertue of the flesh of Oxen, Steeres or Bulles, and Calues.

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I Wyl not vndertake to shew myne opinion at your request onely, but I wil also declare the mynds of some wise and learned men: and fyrst of Si­meon Sethi, who saith that the flesh of Oxen, Of the flesh of Oxen, ste­res, Bulles, and Calues. that be younge doth mutch nou­rish and make them strong that be sed wyth Beefe, but it breedeth choller a­dust, and melancholious diseases, it is cold and dry of nature, and hard to di­gest, except it be eaten of chollericke persons, but being tenderly sodden, Beefe good for the cholo­rike, but euyll for tender sto­mackes. it nourysheth mutch: Beefe customably eaten of idell persons, and nice folke that labour not, bringeth many diseases, as Rasis saith: and Auicen saith, that the flesh of Oxen, or Kine, be very grose, ingendryng ill Iuice in the Body, whereof oftentime come scabs, Cankers, and Biles: but vnto hoat strong chollerike stomackes, it is tollerable and may be vsed as wee haue the daily experience thereof. The broth wherein the Beefe hath ben sodden, Beefe broth agaynst the flixe. is good to be supped or drunke half a pynte euery mornyng against the flix of the bel­ly, and running forth of yellow choller, if the sayd broth bee tempered wyth Salt, Mustarde, Uinegar, or Garlike, commonly vsed for sauces to digeste the sayd Beefe wyth all: for the said sauces doe not only help digestion, but also defend the body from sundry inconueniences, and dyuers sycknesses, as Dropsies, Quartens, Leprosies, and sutch lyke. The Gaule of an Oxe, or a Cowe distilled in the Month of Iune, and kept in a close Glasse, Oxe Gaule clense the eyes doth helpe to clense the eies from spottes, if you put a drop of this water with a fether into the eyes when yee goe to bed: the Milte of a Bull dryed, and the pou­der thereof drunke with Red wyne, wyl stop the bloudy flixe: Oxe Mylte stop the flixe. lyght poudred young Beefe is better: than either fresh or mutch poudred▪ in specially of those cattell that be fed in fayre and dry pastures, and not in stynking Fens. the great learned man Gesnerus in his description of beasts, doth wryte more of the vertues of Bulles, Oxen, Kine, and Calues, Gesnerus wri­teth mutch of brestes, the male better then the fe­male. than any other hath don and thus to conclude, the flesh of the Male beasts, is more better than of the female, and the gelded beasts, be more commodious to nature than anye of them, and the young flesh more commendable than the old, for it is moyster, and a friend to the bloud. Haliabas sayth, roasted flesh doth greatly nourysh the body, for it is warme and moist: baked meates be very dry: cleane boy­led meates wyth holsome herbes, and fruicts. be excellent in vertue to com­fort the body if they be nutrimental flesh. Calues flesh the profit thereof. Calues flesh doeth greatly increase nourish, and make good bloud. Specially the brawne or Muskels of the thigh, are best, sayth Maister Conrade Gesner, and further sayth he, if a man be wounded, then lay Calues flesh newly slayn to it, and this wyl defend the wound from apost [...]macion or swelling: and sodden in vineger, and warme applyed to any part, as armeholes, Against Ra­mishnes vn­der y ^e armes. breast of them that stinke like a Ramme or Goate, it wyll take away the sayd stynke: also it helpeth the bityng of a Man or a mad Dogge, so that thys flesh remain vpon the sayd wound, du­ring fiue dayes, and v. nightes close and not taken away. Celsus for a vomitte.

Celsus in hys medicines agaynst the byting of Serpents, if nothyng can sucke it forth by medicine or boxing, sayth he, then drinke the broath where­in Geese or Ueale hath ben sodden, and then prouoke vomit.

[Page]Great is the goodnes of this flesh, both in meat and medicine. Take the knuckel or sinew part of a Calfe, seeth it in Wyne and water, puttyng in Dates, Prunes, Reisynges of the Sunne, grated bread, Maces, Cloues▪ Fe­nell rootes, Liuerwort, Planten, Purs [...]en, fresh Capers, Borage, and Rose­marie flowers, sodden all together in a siluer, iron, or stone pot, close boyled that no aire can go forth. You may put in half a Cocke: this flesh and broth giueth health to them that are in consumption, weake bodyes, or them which be euill complexioned, or cold of nature. ouercome by Melancholy. &c.

What is the goodnes of Porke, or of gelded swine, Pigges, and Bores flesh. &c.

Porke the commendaci­on thereof. MOst of the auncient, and wisest Phisicions that euer were in this world, dyd consent, that of all flesh, the flesh of young gel­ded swyne, partly salted or poudered, was euer meat of the best nourishing, moyster, and colder than other flesh. For Isaac sayth, it is a flesh most moyst, except it be the flesh of Lambes. as Ga­len reporteth: yet it is not good for euery complexion, nor to euery age, but vnto youth and myddle age. And whereas Almighty God, dyd prohibite the Iewes to eate. swynes flesh: it was a figure to abstayne from vnclean thyngs, whych I leaue to the diuines. The Mahumites abhorre swynes flesh, because theyr drunken false Prophet and Pseudo Apostle was torn, and rent in pieces with Hogges: Swines bloud. beyng drunken and fallen into the mire: & now we must giue credence to tyme, and to learned Phisicions. The Bloude of Swine doth nourish mutch, as is seene in Puddinges, made with greate Otemeale, Pigges Peper, sweete suet, and Fenell, or Anisseedes. Younge Pigges be very moist, therefore Sage. Peper and Salt doth dry vp the superfluous humors of them when they be rosted. Tripes. They be not wholsome to bee eaten, before they be three-weekes old: Bacon. the Trypes and Guttes be wholsomer, and do nourysh better, than any other beastes Gutts. Bacon is very hard of di­gestion, and mutch discommended of some men. and is hurtfull onely vnto a hoat Chol [...]rike labouryng body▪ but a tender gammon of Bacon is tolle­rable, and very good flesh with wyne as custome doth proue it.

Swine of Inde haue hornes. Agatharsides sayth, that the swyne in Aethiopia haue hornes growyng vp­pon their heads, there be diuers kynds of swyne, both wyld, & tame: whose inward partes, be not mutch vnlike vnto mankynd, and for that Galen begā to make Anatomies of theim, in the beginning of his practise, teachynge the Chirurgians to do the like. Why hogges are diseased. These kynd of beastes do heare very easely, and be giuen mutch to sleepe, and wyll eate their owne Pigges, and feede vppon most vile thyngs: for which cause they haue most vile diseases, as Angina in the throat▪ sores, botches, and byles. If they be letten bloud in the veyne vn­der the tongue, and Madder be giuen them and an herb called Pancis, o­therwise named in Latine herba Trinitatis, it helpeth them, if it bee sodden in Whey. Those swine that vse to feede by the sea side. & eate of young Crabs, be deliuered of many diseases: if they doe feede vpon Polipodie, they shalbe de­liuered [Page 75] of the Pestilence. Amonge the Chrysten Men, Bores flesh is had in great estimacion, to be eaten in Winter: and chiefly vpon Chrystmas day. Galen doth greatly commend the same flesh, or Braune, to be eaten in wyn­ter: and also this Bores flesh is proued in the tyme of Pestilence, to breake a plague sore. Bores grease, and his stones, or any part of them stamped to­gether and warme applyed to the same sore, worketh that effect. And thus I do end of Swyne, which in their liues be most vile, noysome, and neuer good vntill they die.

What is the vertues of Lambes, and Weathers flesh?

SImeon Sethi saith, Lambes flesh is partly warme, Lambs flesh good rosted. euil sodden. but superfluous moist, and euyll for flegmatike persones, and doeth mutch harme to them that haue the Dropsie, boneach, or a disease called Epialus, which is spitting of flegme, shyning lyke Glasse. Therefore, if Lambes flesh were sodden, as it is rosted, it would bryng many dyseases vnto the bodyes of them, without it were sodden in wyne, and some hoate Grosseries, herbes, or rootes. When a Weather is two yere olde, whych is fed vppon a good Ground, the flesh thereof shall b [...]e temperate, and nouri­sheth mutch. Hippocrates saieth, that the Lambe of a yere old, doth nouryshe mutch. Galen seemeth not greatly to commend Mutton, but that whych is tender, sweete, and not olde, is very profitable, Mutton. as experience and custome do daily teach vs. The doung, Tallow, and UUolle, bee very profitable in medicines, as Plinie sayth, and Conradus Gesnerus, de animalibus ▪ and Galen in his thyrd booke de Alementis,

UUhat be the vertues of Goates, or Kiddes flesh?

THese be beastes very hurtful vnto young trees and plants but Simeon Sethi sayth, Kiddes flesh very good. that Kiddes flesh is easy of digesti­on, in health and sicknesse, they be very good meate, they be very dry of nature. Hippocrates sayth, it behoueth that y ^e con­seruers and kepers of health, should study that their meat be sutch as the flesh of Kiddes, Flesh good for sicke per­sones. young calues that bee suc­king, and lambes of one yere old, for they be good for them that be sicke, or haue euil complexion. Haliabbas sayth, that the flesh of Kids, doth engender good bloud, and is not so flegmatike, waterie and moyste, as the flesh of Lambes: they remaine Kiddes for sixe monethes, and after­ward come into grosser, and hoatex nature, and then be called Goates: the flesh of them that be gelded are wholsom to eate, The lunges of them eaten before a man doth drynke, doth defend him that day from drunkenes, Goates flesh. as I haue heard, by the reports of learned men: but the flesh of old male Goates is euyl, and engendreth Agues, or Feuers. Conradus. Gesnerus de animalibus Matthiolus super Diolco. If the Uriue of Goats be distilled in May, with Sorel the water distilled is not hurtful nor noisome▪ but who­soeuer vseth to drink therof. ʒ.ii. morning & euening, it wil preserue him frō the Pestilence. The Milke of Goates I wil describe in the proper place.

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What is the vertue of Red, and fallow Deare:

Dere red and fallow▪ bee spoylers of Corne. THey are more pleasaunt to some, than profitable to many as appereth once a yere in the corne fields, the more it is to be lamen­ted. Hippocrates, and Simeon Sethi do playnly affirme that y ^e flesh of them doth engender euil iuice, and Melancholy, cold disea­ses, The wynter Dere better then the som­mer. and Quartēs: the flesh of winter Deare, doth lesse hurt the body. than that which is eaten in Sommer, for in winter mans digestion is more stronger, and the inward partes of the body warmer, and may easelier consume grosse meats, than in sommer, as we see by experience, in cold weather and frostes, healthfull people be most hungrest. The lunges of a Deare sodden in Barly water, and stamped with Penidies, and Hony, of e­quall quantity, The lunges o [...] the Dere. to the sayd lunges, and eaten a Morninges doth greatlye helpe the old coughes, and drynesse in the Lunges: there be many goodlye vertues of theyr Hornes, bones, bloud, and tallow. Looke Conradus Gesnerus de animalibus.

What is the vertue of Hares and Conies?

Of Hares flesh and Conies. AVICEN sayth, the flesh of Hares, is hoat and dry, an engen­derer of Melancholy, not praysed in Phisicke for meate, but rather for medicine: for in deede if a Hare be dryed in y ^e month of March, in a Ouen or Furnice and beaten into pouder, and kept close, and drunke mornings in Beare, Ale, or whyte wine, it wyl breake the stone in the Bladder, if the pacyente be not old: The pouder of the Hare, for the stone. if chyldrens gummes be anoynted with the braynes of an Hare, theyr teeth wil easely come, and grow. The gaule of an Hare mingled with cleane Hony, doth clense watry eyes, or red bloudy eyes. The flesh of Hares must be tenderly roosted and wel larded, and spyced. because of the grose­nes, but it is better sodden. The flesh of Conies, is better than Hares fleshe, and easyer of digestion, but Rabets be holsome, for meate of sycke people: and thus to conclude of Conies, experience teacheth vs, that they are good: they be cold and dry of nature, and small mencion is made of them amonge the auncient Phisicions, Galeni de simp. medica. as Galen sayth. I neede not to speake very long of eue­ry kynd of beasts, as some of the beasts that be in Hiberia, like lyttle Hares which be called Conies.

What is the nature of a beast called Erinaceus, called the Porpentine, and Echinus called the Hedghog, which is ful of pryckes?

DIOSCORIDES lib. 2. cap. 2. saith, the skins of them combust or burnt, and beaten in fyne pouder, Erinaceus or Porpentine for baldnesse▪ to increase hayre. and tempered with Tarre, is a good oyntment for to increase hayre, and kepe of baldnesse. The dryed flesh of them sodden in Uineger and Suger, is good to be dronke [Page 76] against the stoppyng of the raynes, conuulsions, Leprosies of flegme, or an euyll complexion. The pouder of this Porpētine must be kept close in a ves­sell for medycine. The pouder of the Hare whych is dryed in March, Hares pouder for the Raynes. must be vsed for the purging of the Raynes, and clensyng of the bladder, y ^e sayed pouder is to be drunke with whyte wyne, and Cassiafistula. Also the grease of the Propentine, or Hedghogge, with Beares grease and Laudanum, ana. ℥.i. beaten in a Leaden morter, this is a good oyntment against baldnesse or losse of hayre, to rub the place daily therewyth The Liuers of Porpentines dryed and beaten into pouder are good for the Raines, or Morbus Elephantia­cus. Tese beastes be of cold nature. better for medicine than meate. and bee vermen or beastes of the nyght, armed against Dogges, with long prickes, and headed mutch like a Hare, with teeth according, and eares like an Ape. &c. The Urchin or Hedghogge is commonly knowen, and headded lyke a Swine or younge Pigge. The pouder of them as Plinie affyrmeth, beynge drunke, will helpe and defende the consumption: and thus I doe ende of this beaste called Echinus, which the Arabians call Caufed. The Urchin or Hedghog. The Urchin of the the Sea is good for the belly, stomacke and vryne. Dioscorides lib 2. cap. 1.

uWhat say you of the Fiber, Beuer, or Castor?

THis Castor liueth by water and land, he loueth to feede vpon Crabs and Cankers of the Sea. Castor or Beuer. The stones of a Castor are a warme me­dicine, and preuayle against poyson, to be drunke or in oyntment. And the pouder of y ^e same stones be good to moue sternutation or neesyng, blowē into the noose Of the pouder. ʒ.ii. with Penyroyall, called Pulial. ʒii.ss tē ­pered together in wine and drunke, wyl cause a woman in her trauel soone to be delyuered, and the seconds to folow, and finally to clense the body, and helpeth swellings, collickes Iliaces, syghinges, Cordiaces, Lytharges & poi­son drunke with Uineger: and in fine it is so warme, that it helpeth all the passions or sickenesses in the brest, belly, liuer, and sinewes, Castor stones do help all cold infirmi­tes both in men & women commynge of cold: the Beuer stones be best, that be most graue and stronge of sauour and haue a liquor mutch like Cerase within the Cod, and couered with a natu­rall coueryng. Plinie. xxxij. cap. iij. Castor is good to help the Comitiall or fal­lyng sicknesse, to be drunke. The Oyle of them is also good for the Teeth, raynes. belly, brest, and to be dropped into the Eares.

What say you of the litle beast Mustela. called the Weesell or Wezell, which is commonly knowen?

This Mustela called the Weesel, is commonly known: and this Weesel, the flesh therof sodden in Wine & drunk, The Weesel is good agaynst the fallyng sikenes and Struma. Angina or swelling of the throate. is a present remedy against all venim, poyson, and the Falling Sickenesse. with Uineger the grease of the Weesel sodden, is a goodly medicine to anoynt the Gout with all. The Bloud of Weesels is good to anoynte the Neckes. Throates, and stomackes of them whych haue Struma, that is, the swelling of the Throate [Page] or the Falling sycknesse, or Palsie. The donge of the Weesell wyth Hony, Fenigreeke, and Lupines beaten together, is good to anoynt warme the throat, for the sycknesse called Struma: the gaule of the weesel tempered with the water of Fenell, is a present remedy for the dimnesse of the eye, to be put therein: and all the spottes as Morphew of the skin, is clensed therewyth. The Lunges of the Weesell is good in pouder, For to heale y ^e Morphew. to be drunk agaynst all the infirmities of the Lunges, with many other Uertues of the Weesell, and properties, as to kyl Mise and Rattes, to serue in the house like Cattes, but the sauour of the sayed Weesel is mortiferous and deadly. Plinie lib. 8. cap. 22.

What say you of Raynard the Fox, and the Beare?

THe Lunges of the Fox is good in Medicine, for the sycke Lunges of mankinde. The Foxe the Beare the Badgarde. The grease of the Fox is also good for all Coldnesse, Palsey, and the contraction of the si­newes, and tremblyng of the body. The Beare is a beaste whose flesh is good for mankynd: To help bald­nesse. his fat is good with Lau­danum, to make an oyntment to heale balde headded men to receiue the hayre agayne. The grease of the Beare, the fatte of a Lambe, and the oyntment of the Fox, maketh a good oyntment to anoynt the feete against the payne of trauell or labour of footemen. Beare, Fox, and Brocke are good to helpe the Palsey. All the parts of the Foxe, the Badgar, and the Beare are good in medicine, or meate agaynste the Palsey, tremblyng or coldnesse of the flesh, or any of them. Ther is a com­mon fable among the people, that is to say a Beare hath a disformed Whelp in the tyme of delyueraunce, without Members, whych is not true: for the Beare in the byrth hath all the members, as other beastes haue. Reade Mat­thiolus in Dioscorides lib. iii. cap. supra.

What is the vertue of a Birde, called the Osspraye.

Haleetus the Ospray a water Egle. LIke as the Egle, and all kyndes of Haukes, doe pray and feede vpon the flesh of birdes: euen so God hath ordayned y ^e water Egle, called Haliaeetus the Osspraie, to fear the Fish­es, and feede vpon them. And all Haukes, or Birdes of the Nature of Egles, with hard croked billes, are compted vn­cleane fleshe. Leui. xi. are not vsed common among vs, vnto this daye. Ospraies oile good to put in water to gather fi [...]h ready to be ta­ken. Howbeit, the Oyle or grease of the Osspraie, is had in great esti­macion to take Fish withall: and the head thereof dryed and beaten into pouder, maketh a good medicine for young infant chyldren, to be put into the Nosthrilles, to breake wynde very gentle. And the Gaule is wholsome for sore eyen to be dropped with the white of an Egge into them. And the geease and Gaule, Medicines made of the Ospray. wyl heale the stinginge and bityng of Serpentes, and also is good to be dropped into the eare to clense them, and h [...]lpe hearynge Reade Gesnerus. Lib. iij. de Auibus.

What say you of Iuery.

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IT is good, to astringe or bynd, and to race it with Turmerike and Saffrō putting in Diacurcuma in Tabulis, sodden in the water of Endiue, Iuery. where­with many people are helped of a perilous hoat and dry sicknes called R [...]gi­us morbus, or the yellow Iaundice. A drinke for the Iaundice.

What is the vertue of Chickens and Hennes?

ALL foules, whych haue hard pennes, be strong of nature, Of house Cockes. Capons and Chickens. Their flesh mutch cōmen­ded. as Chickens or Hennes, sayth Auenzoer, which be most commē ­ded, and laudable of any other flesh, and nourishe good bloud and are light of digestion, and doe also comfort the appetite. Cocke chickens be better than Hennes. the Capon is better than the Cocke, they do augment good bloud and seede, as Rasis reporteth, and experience proueth in men. both whole and sicke. An old Cocke whych is well beaten after his feathers be pulled of, vntil hee bee all bloudy, and then cut of his head, and draw hym, and seeth hym in a close pot with fayre water, and whyte wyne, Fenell rootes, Burrage rootes, Uio­lettes: Planten. Suckerie, and Buglosse leaues, Dates, Prunes, greate Reisons, Maces, and Sugar, and put into the Marie of a Calfe, and Saun­ders, maketh a very good broth, for them that bee sycke, weake, A good broth for a body which hath ben long sicke. or consu­med: the braynes of Hennes, Capons, or Chickens, be wholsome to eate, to comfort the brayn and memory: and wyl cause young Childrens Teeth to grow quickly. And thus to conclude, these foresayd fowles be better for I­dell folkes that labour not, than for thē that vse exercise, or trauell, to whom grose meates are more profytable. The Cocke is the best clocke, to keepe the tyme. Gesnerus lib. iij. de Auibus.

What is the vertue of Geese?

THe flesh of wyld Geese and tame, Of Geese and Goslinges. are very grose and hard of dige­stion, as Auicen sayeth: the flesh of great fowles, as of Geese, bee slow and hard of digestion, for their humidite, doth breede Feuers quickly: but their Goselinges, or young ones, beyng fat, are good, & mutch commended in meates, Galen sayth, of the Flesh of Beastes, & Birds. Goose flesh breedeth Me­lanchory. But vndoubtedly, Geese, Mallardes, Pecockes. Swans, and euery foule hauing a longe necke, be all hard of digestion, and of no good complexions: but if these be well rosted, and stuffed, with Salt, Sage, Peper, and Ony­ons. they wil not hurt the eaters of them. The Barna­kle of Scot­land, neuer lay Egges, but are bred onely of the Ocean Sea, dead Gesne­rus de Aui­bus. lib. 3. There be greate Geese in Scot­land which brede vpon a place called the Basse, there be also Barnacles, whych haue a straunge generacion, as Gesnerus sayth, whych neuer lay Egs as the people of the North parts of Scotland knoweth, and least it shoulde seeme incredible to many, I wyl geue none occasion to any, either to mock, or to maruel: and thus I geue warning to them which loue their health, to haue these foresayd fowles somwhat poudered, or stopped with Salt, al the night before they bee roasted.

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What is the vertue of Cranes flesh?

Cranes, are hoat, and en­crease seede. SImeon Sethi sayth, their flesh is hoat and dry, the younger be good but the old encrease Melancholy, they do engender seede of Generation, and beyng tenderly rosted, doth help to cleare the voice, and clense the pipe of the Lunges. Cranes be byrdes of a wonderfull prouidence, Gesnerus de Auibus.

What is the vertue of Duckes flesh?

THey be the hoatest of all domesticall or yard foules, and vncleane of feeding: Duckes are very hoat of nature and Melancholy▪ notwithstandyng though they be hard of digestion. & mar­uelous hoate, yet they wyl nourish the body, and maketh it fat. Hip­pocrates sayth, that they that be fed in puddels, and foule places, be hurtfull, but they that be fed in Houses, Pennes, or Coopes, are nutriue, but verye grose, as Isaacke affyrmeth. There are sundry kyndes of Duckes. Gesnerus de Auibus.

What is the vertue of Pigeons, Turtles, or Doues?

THe flesh of Turtles is merueilous good, and equall to the best birds: and Auicen sayth, Doues are very hoat. they bee best when they be young, and wholsome for flegmatike people▪ Simeon Sethi affirmeth, that the house Doue is hoater than the Field Doue, and doth engender grose bloude, the common eatyng of them is euill for cholerike persones with red faces, Of Doues. for feare of Leprosie▪ therefore cut of the feete, wynges, and head of your Pigeons or Doues, for theyr bloud is that, which is so venemous through heat: they be best in the Spryng tyme, and Haruest, and Isaack sayth, because they are so lightly conuerted into choller, they dyd commaund in the old tyme, that they should be eaten wyth sharp Uineger, Doues flesh. must be eaten with Uine­ger. Purssen, Cucumbers▪ or Citrōs. Roosted Pigeons be best, the bloud that commeth out of the right wynge, dropped into ones eye, wyll sone helpe the eye, if it swell, or prycke: and thus mutch haue I spoken of Pigeons, or Doues.

What is the vertue of Pecockes?

Peacocks flesh is hoat & moyst in the first degree Gesnerus lib. 3THE Peacocke, his voice feareth Serpents: Aristotle de natura ani. and is hoat and moyst, in the fyrst degree. But Simeon Sethi sayth, it is a rawe flesh, and hard of digestion, vnlesse it be very fat, but if it be fat, it helpeth the Pleurisie▪ Haliabas saith, that both Swannes, Craines, Pecockes, and anye great fowles, must after they be kylled, bee hanged vp by the neckes, twoo or three daies, de Auibus. with a stone waying at their feete, as the weather wil serue▪ and then dressed and eatē, prouided that good wine be drunken after them. Their Egges are noisome to be eaten, Dioscorides.

[Page 78]What is the vertue of Swannes flesh?

EUery grose fowle is Chollerike, and hard of digestion. Swannes flesh, cholerike The Swanne is grose, therefore flow of digestion. But the Signets bee better than the old Swannes, if there gal [...]ntines be well made, it helpeth to digest their flesh The Swan is numbred among the vncleane byrds, Leuiticus. xi. and wyl synge a litle before his death. Plinie Gesnerus de Auibus.

What is the vertue of Her [...]nes, Bittures. and Shouelers.

THese fowles be Fishers, and be very raw and Flegmatike, Bitters▪ Herons. Shouelers. like vnto the meate whereof they are fed, the young are best, and ought to be eaten with Peper, Cinamon, Sugar. and Ginger, and it is good to drynke Wyne after them, for good digestion: Sutch meat, such cōplexiō, and thus doe for all Water fowles,

What is the vertue of Partriches, Fesantes, Quayles, Larkes, Sparrows, Plouers, and Blacke byrdes?

PArtriches wil bynd the belly, and do nourish muche, the Cockes bee better then the Henne Byrdes, Partriges they do dry vp fleume and corrup­tion in the stomacke. Fesantes be the best of all Fleshe, for their sweetnesse is equal vnto the Capon or Partrich, Fesantes. but they are som­what dryer, and Rasis sayth, Fesants flesh is good for them that haue the Fe­uer Ethicke, for it is not onely a meate, but a medecine, Quailes. and doth clense corrupt humours in the stomacke. Quayles although they be eaten of manye, yet they are not to be commended, for they doe engender Agues, and be e­uil for the fallyng sickenes For as Conciliator sayth, of al foules that be vsed for meates, a Quayle is the worst, Dioscorides sayth, Larkes roosted bee wholesom to be eaten of them that be troubled with the Collike. Black bir­des taken in the tyme of Frost be holsome and good of digestion, The dunge of Black birdes tempered with Uineger, Larkes hel [...] the Collicke. Black birdes Plouers Sparowes, Woodcockes▪ smal Birds. and applyed to the place of any that hath the blacke Morphew, or blacke Leprosy, oftentymes an­noynted with a Sponge doth helpe them. The flesh of Plouers doth en­gender Melancholye. Sparrowes be hoate and prouoke Uenus, or lust. Plinie doth descrybe their propertyes: the Braynes be the best parte of them. Woodcockes be of good digestion, and temperate to feede vppon. Al small byrdes of the Fyeld, as Robin Redbrest, Linnets, Finches, Redde Sparrowes, Goldwinges, and such lyke: if they be fat, they be maruailous good, and do greatly comfort nature, either roosted, or boyled: and thus I do conclude with thee of byrdes: that the small fyeld byrdes are most hol­some for sycke folkes: Read Gesnerus lib. j▪ de Auibus.

What is the vertue of Fishes.

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IN many Ilands of this World, placed neare vnto the Ocean seas, the people liue there most chyefly by Fysh, and be ryghte stronge and sound people of complexion, for as Aristotle sayeth, consuetudo est tanquam altera natura, custome is like vnto another nature: but because I speak of Fish, I wyl deuide them in thre parts. Three things considered in fish. Sea fish hol­some then y ^t of the fresh water. First of the Fishes of the Sea. Secondly the Fish of the fresh run­nyng Riuers. Thirdly of the Fishes in Pooles, and standyng waters▪ The Sea hath many grose, and fat Fyshes, whych be noysome to the stomacke, but the small kynd of Fyshes, that feede about R [...]cks, And cleare stony pla­ces, be more dryer, and lesse of moystnes than the fresh water Fish, and doe engender lesse flegme, and wynd, by reason of their Salt feedyng, as Galen sayth: they be the best fyshes, that feede in the pure Sea, and chyefest of all Fyshes, for the vse of mankynd, and Haliabas sayth, new fysh lately taken, is cold and moyste, and flegmatike, then the beste of all nexte the sea fysh, is that which swimmeth in fresh cleare Riuers or stony places, whereas the water is sweete, beyng fishes that beare skales, these be marueilous good: but if they feede neare vnto places where mutch fylth is daily cast out, Muddy Fish not holsome. there the fishes be very corrupt, and vnholsome, as the sayd Haliabas sayth. Fyshe that feedeth in Fennes, Marshes, Ditches and muddy puddels, be verye vnholsome, Fish that haue skales. be good, but fish without skales are not holsome. and do corrupt the bloud, they be grose and slymie, corrupt and wyndie: but those that be fed in fayre pondes, whereunto running Water may ensue. and whereas sweete water, herbes, rootes, and Weedes, that grow about the bankes, do feede the fish, those fyshes be holsome▪ Galen sayth, Fysh that is whyte skaled and hard, as Perches, Breames, Cheuins, Ruffes, Carpes, Roches, Troutes &c. be all good, but vnscaled Fyshes, as Eeles, Ten [...]hes, Lampres, & sutch like be daungerous. vnlesse they be well baked or roosted, and eaten with Pepper and Ginger, and Uineger. And note this, that it is not holsome trauailing, or laboryng, immediatly after eating of Fish, for it doth greatly corrupt the stomack, and as Galen saith the nourishments of Flesh are better, than the nourishments of Fish: and thus mutch generally I haue spoken of Fysh. Of the natures of Fyshes, reade Rondoletius ▪ and Conradus Gesnerus de Piss ▪

WHat, it seemeth by these words, that greate Fishes, which bee deuou­rers in the Sea, as Seale, Porpose, and sutch like, bee vnholsome, and that the small Fishes, as Cods, Whitynges Plaice, Smelts, Buttes-Soole, Pike, Breme, Roche, Carpe and sutch as feede in cleane stonye Wa­ters, thou sayst they be very wholsome. Eeles Lampers, and other mud­dy Fishes, thou doest not greatly commend, There be also some kindes of Fish soft, and some hard, but which be the best.

IF Fysh be soft, the eldest Fysh is best: if Fish be hard, the youngest Fish is best, Fish soft and hard. for it is either soft or hard, of hard Fish take the smallest, of soft Fish take the greatest: prouided that your Fish be not very slimye, and thus sayth Auicen in his booke of Fyshes.

What is the vertue of Shelfishes.

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CRauises, and Crabbes, be very good fyshes, the meat of them, doth helpe the Lunges, Shel fyshes. but they be hurtful for the bladder, yet they wil engender seede. If Crabbes of the fresh water, be sodden in pure greene Oyle Olife: this Oyle dropped into the eare luke warme, doth heale bur­ning obstructions, and stoppinge matter, For deaf [...]es, that hindreth y ^e hearing. As for Lympetes, Cockels, Scallopes, as Galen sayth, they be hard of digestion. Muskels, and Oysters, would be wel boy­led, rosted, or baked With Onions, wyne, Butter, Suger, Ginger, & Pe­per, or els they be wyndy, & Flegmatike: Oysters cholorike stomackes may wel di­gest raw Oysters, but they haue cast manye one away, yet raw Oysters wil clense the raynes.

What say you of Milke, Butter, and Cheese?

WOmens Milke is the most gentle nutriment for yonge children, which milke is of the decoction of pure bloode, Milke of wo­men is the best of al Milkes. by natural heat and drawen foorth by the Nibles from the breastes or Pappes, this is the fyrste foode of man­kynd: for lyke as bread is a blessyng of God for men, e­uen so is Milke one of the great blessinges, as appeareth in the promise whych god made to Israell. Without Milke, it is not possible to bryng vp man or beast. The best milke is of women, and most temperate, for it preserueth agaynst consumption. The second is Goates Milke, which doth norysh, and is hoatter than womēs. Milke of Goats. Sheepes Mylke, is not so much noryshyng, and not pleasaunte to the sto­make. Yong Cows milke is thicker, and ful of Butter: Note also that iiii. thinges must be considered in milke, the whitenes of coloure, Milke of Kyne Milke foure thinges consi­dered in it. the sweetnes of sauour, the pleasantnes of taste, the substaunce, neither thicke nor thinne: it is good Mylke, when a drop wil stand whole vppon youre thum nayle, without sheading. There be three essences of Milke, Cheese, Butter, and Whay, the best milke is of the yongest and fattest Kyne, or Goats, that bee fed in y ^e cleanest, dryest, and sweetest Pastures. wheras plentye of sweete flowers are growing, and purest Clay or Chalke water, with holesome layer. The best time of milke, is in April, May, and Iune. The new Milk is most holesome for them to drynke, which hath cleane stomackes, to drink i [...] with Suger, as it commeth from the Cow thre howers before al other meat or drynke, and then it wil not coagulate nor crude in the stomake, but quench Choller. Moreouer milke is not only good to yonge children & helthful people: but if it be sower, then beware the stone in the raynes, Milk hurtful to whom. and blad­der through the same: and to them which haue Feuers or headache, Milke doth much harme, as Hippocrates sayth Lac dare caput dolentibus, malum: malum vero febricitantibus & quibus hypochondria suspensa murmurant, & siticulosis: malū autem in febribus acutis, quibus biliosae sunt deiectiones, & quibus sanguinis multi de­iectio facta est: conuenit autem tabidis, qui non multum febricitant & in febribus lon­gis & paruis si nullum ex supradictis signis affuerit &c,

[Page]That is Milke sayth he, is very vnholesome to such as haue paynes in their heddes, Hyppocrates of the hurt of Milke, and y ^e vtility therof or that be sicke of any Feuer, and also to them which haue any noise or wynde in the vpper parte of their bellye called Hypochondria, & that haue cholericke decoctiō in hoat feuer, or haue lost much blood: notwithstanding milke is good for such as haue a consumption without a Feuer, and maye be geuen to them. which haue had Feuers long tyme, if none of the foresaid tokens do appeare &c. And to conclude of mylke, seeynge oftentimes it is verye euill, and will throughe the couldenesse, and wynde offende the whole Bodyes of menne, Milke is a good thing in a common wealth. what harme doth it than to Sicklye per­sonnes? howe be it, we se Milke is a goodlye staye in a common Wealthe, and the feeders therof are people of a good temperament, or complexion, as in Wales, Suffolke, Essex, and in a place in the Mountaynes in y ^e North called Alston More, Alston Moore in the North wheras little▪ tillage is, but bringyng vp of Chattel: in this country the people be al chiefly nourished with milke, little other drinke they vse, milke excepted. This country was somtime the land of a worthy knight, called syr Thomas, the Baron of Hylton, to whom I dedicated my little Booke intituled the Gouernment of health, Sir Thomas the Baron Hylton his lande. promisyng in the same Booke to set f [...]rth an other booke, wherof the copy perished with my Bookes, in shipwracke: and when I came to London to haue reuined my dead book, one William Hilton gentleman, brother to the sayd syr Thomas Hilton, ac­cused me of no lesse cryme, William▪ Hil­ton letted Wil­liam Bulleine to fynish his boke of healthful medecines then of most cruel murder of his owne brother, who dyed of a Feuer (sent onely of God) among his owne frends, fynishing his lyfe in the christen fayth. But this William Hilton caused me to be ar­rained before that noble Prince, the Dukes grace of Norffolke, for the same: to this end, to haue had me dyed shamefully: That with the couetous Ahab he might haue through false witnes, and periury, obtayned by the counsell of Iezabell, a Uine yard, by the pryce of blood. But it is wrytten, Testis men­dax peribit a false witnes shal com to naught, his wicked practise was wise­ly espyed, his folly deryded, his bloody purpose letted, and fynallye I was w ^t Iustice deliuered. Notwithstanding, yet am I by the same William Hiltō stil molested and troubled as much as lyeth in him, to shorten my dayes, by some meanes or accidente, who with neither lawful pollicye, nor false testi­mony, cold hetherto accomplish his wicked intent▪ Now therfore blame me not my deare frend Marcellus, though this man be remēbred in my booke heare of health, and preseruing of lyfe, seyng I was somtyme in his booke of a false indightment, conspyring my death This man hath letted me, in so much that I cannot run to the marke, that I did set before myne eyen, ther­fore I must make a shorter course, fynishing with fewer things, trusting not vnprofitable for the common welth: whose profyte I doe seeke, and more would haue done, this his malicious factes excepted, whose malice doth the lesse molest mee, beynge a Straunger to him, seynge hee hath vexed a Ladye, which was his owne Brothers Wyfe, whose shame, losse, yea and Bloode hee hath soughte: whiche Brothers Wyfe redeemed mutch of hys Lande from losse, A bloody practice agaynst y ^e lady Hilton. in lendyng him a great Summe of Money. And when this man should thankfully haue repayed this lady her Money, then he gratifyed her, as he did mee.

[Page 80]And so to conclude, you that are gentlemen, beware of shameful ingrati­tude, wheras you haue reaped comodity. For it is the most leprous sicknes agaynst nature, to doe euil for good, preferryng a little lucre before honesty. worldly worship, shame, and fynally, Gods wrath or vengeaunce, due for such wyckednes agaynst conscience, and nature. What a very gentelman is For ingratitude doth degenerat mankynde, and transforme him most monstruously, into an euil vile nature, from gentlenes, into Churlishnes. For lyke as gentlenes with vertues maketh a very gentle man: although somtime obscurely borne: so doth ingratitude, blemish, and defyle them, which can bryng nothing els for thē ­selues, but Pedegrees, lynes, cotes. and standerdes, most aunciently descē ded, yet themselues void of al goodnes. Thus I leaue to molest thine ears with him, who hath thus molested me, profitable to fewe, and noysome to himselfe. A louer of few, a flatterer of many, a vessel of ignorance, ful of ingratitude, vnnatural to his Children, if that he spoyleth in lawe, Cataplasme for M. Hilton of Bidicke, of the Bishoprik of Duresme. whiche should be their reliefe: & thus I commend hym to thys Cataplasma, to his mortifyed conscience. Faythles and fruitles he is.

Butter of nature is hot & moist, & hath vertu to mollify hard apostimatiōs y ^t are aboue nature, as Galen sayth: fresh Butter doth rype, clense, & warm y ^e inward parts in meats, ointments or drynks. Fresh butter is good to an­noint y ^e swelling of Hypochondrion or belly, & for y ^e Phlegmon & Bubo. Furder to cause yong children their teeth to grow, through the annointing of the place and it is good to make annoyntment for the Pleuritici, And to be dronke in wyne or Beere, for the stopping of the lungs, Butter, Hony, Butter the vertue of it. and bytter Al­monds, be wholsome for to clense the brest, and being put in suppositories, and Glysters, doe mollify the belly. New Butter meanly salted, is good w ^t Bread, Flesh, and fysh. The olde Butter changing with many colours, is the worst, it is noysome to the stomacke. Butter is good in the morninge, but not holesome at night: yet Butter preuayleth agaynst poysone in woū ­des, it wil purge, clense, and encrease Flesh. When y ^• Butter is fyrst made, there is a mylk coming from the same somwhat sharpe, sower, and cold, ve­ry holesome to be dronke in the morning or euening, Butter Milk called Char [...]n Milk is good agaynst hoat burning choller: it openeth the liuer, clēseth the gaule, prouoketh vrine, causeth, sleepe and nourisheth much if it be eaten with Sugar, and new whyte breade.

Cheese which is a part of Milke of the grosser substaunce, Cheese freshe is best. throughe the coagulation or cruddes, beyng gathered and pressed togeather, from y ^e moist whay, the same cheese is finished: and if it be made of cleane milke and the Creame therewith, then it is beneficial to the stomacke, specially, if it bee fresh and good it norisheth the flesh much, Greene cheese helpeth woundes. and is good for greene woundes to knit them, and wil also quench heate, or clense a spot in the eye, beynge layed theron .xxiiii. howres. Cheese meanly salted nourisheth but little, by y ^e reason of the Salt. old Cheese stoppeth the flixe of the Belly, but it is hard to digest hurting the stomacke, gaule, & raynes, Cheese olde stoppeth the fluxe, but bre­deth the stone. and wil breede the stone in the bladder, and cause the increase of melancholy with much coldenes and drynes Gal. lib. 4. alimentorum facult ▪ commendeth the Cheese of his own na­tiue country, because of the purenes of milke, and sweetnes of the Cheese, but in his x. lib. of Simples, he refuseth Cheese for the sowrenes. &c. whan [Page] stone pottes be broken, what is better to glew them a gayn or make them fast, Sundry kyn­des of Cheese nothing like the Syment made of Cheese. Know therefore that it will quickly build a stone in a dry body, which is ful of choller adust. And here in England be dyuers kyndes of Cheeses, Much good Butter little good cheese as Suff. Essex, Banbury. &c. accor­dyng to their places and feeding of their Cattell, tyme of the yeare, layre of theire Kyne, clenlines of theyr dayryes, quantity of theire Butter, for the more Butter, the worse cheese. And thus I conclude of Cheese. lyke as the Welchmen loue it rosted, euen so do Flemminges loue Butter at al tymes, and of all makings refusyng none, what coloure soeuer it hath, and from whence soeuer it commeth, their stomackes are suche.

Whay the vertue therof.Whay is the thinnest part of Milke. Whay w ^t Fumitory sodden in May, & dronke cold in the morning and Euening▪ hath vertue to scowre, clense & open the partes of the body that are stopped, prouoketh vryne, and maketh clean the Bladder, & is good to quenche choller, helpeth the bellye, asswageth thirst, yet it inflameth, and bryngeth wynd to the guttes but recocted or two tymes sodden whaye, is the best whay and wil bring sleepe, and also is good in Clisters, to coole, scower, & quench choller in the guttes, or helpe the [...]xcoriation in them, made by bloody Flixe: Galen commendeth Whaye lib. x. simplicium medic. and Mesue doth not a little prayse the Whay of blacke Goats, Gotes whay and how it is hoat and dry in the first degree vnto the second: this whay is good to be geuen to them which abound with much melancholye, or frensies, and clenseth the water betweene the skin and the flesh, openeth the Gaule, & mollifieth the Spleene: in sharp acute Tertian Feuers, or stopping of the vessels, w ^t yellow choller, this whay doth much helpe, to drinke y ^e same, & nothinge is better to be dronk against hot Leprosy thā whay, it ma­keth a clean skin. Whay is vsed in many decoctiōs, & infusiōs, for lenitiues to purge the belly▪ and thus I do ende of Whaye, whiche is a good drynke in Sommer in the common wealth, wheras good dayries be, as in Suffolk, the best country of Milke, as about Lethringham, Stratbrooke, Laxefield Keishal▪ &c.

Egges be commended of the moste excellent Wryters, as Dioscorides, and Galen, Egges of Byrdes. that they do excel al other nourshing meats, & also are good in mede­cine Isaac the Arabian, in his diates, doth prayse Hennes Egges, for that▪ they be pleasaunt to the mouth, and profitable to the Stomacke and that they nourish more then other meates, and are soonest turned into good blood, & ef [...]soones into seede of generation, specially Egges that be new and whyte, but old Egges be most fylthy and noysome to the stomacke. Furthermore Egges haue no part of the Fowle, sayth Galen Simplic medi. but a portion of the thing frō whence they come: Egges three thinges in thē. & Symeon Sethi sayth .iii. things must be considered of Egges, the fyrst is the substance & cleannes of nature: the second is their age, eyther new or olde: the third is of the manner of their dressinge, as potching, see thing or rostinge. Potched Egges be holsome to bee supp [...]d vp in the morning vppon an empty stomacke. To clense the Lunges, breast & the rayns: hard Egges doe bynde: fryed Egges be hurtful to the stomake: next in goodnes vnto them are the Egges of Fesantes, & Partriges, & the Egges of smal Byrdes of the wood, whose Egges are white, but y ^e Egges [Page 81] water foules, as Swannes, Gees [...], Duckes, with al their kyndes, be grosse and not pleasaunt to nature, Egges of great [...]oules be not good, althoughe good to stronge stomacked labou­rers. Doues Egges, because of their great heate, are more better for me­decine then meat. Pecockes and Estrige eges, bee not good: of an euil na­ture and ennemy to mankynde: In foode, Of Egges their vertue. the yellowe partes of Egges bee warme, and nourish the bloude, and the whyte of the Egge, is colde, and flegmatike. Galen doth cōmend the whyte of Egges, because they freat not, but coole: and therfore they are good for medecines for the eyes, and vlcers and woundes of the head, and other places wheras blood doth flow. Raw Egges, with Oile of Roses beaten togeather, are good for Flegmon in the Eares, breastes, Armes, Legges, or priuy members. The white of an egge the iuice of Pomgranets: Uineger, and the oyle of water Lillies, Egges for [...]eepe. are good beaten togeather, to annoynt the forehead, to cause sleepe. Egges sodden in stronge sharpe vineger, vntil they be harde, eate theym, and they wil stop the belly. Whytes of Egges, the pouder of the flowers of Pomgranetes, Planten water, and Hypocistes, with oyle of Roses, and Alume, For burninge beaten in a leaden Morter, wil heale a burning or skalding in the fleshe, coueringe the place with a Launde Clothe, and annoynting the sayd Launde with this oyntment. Oyle of Egges is good to heale Serpigo the breaking or Cra­mes of the Lippes, handes, skalding, burning, payns of the eares, stomacke, Oile of egges raynes, belly, and the priuy members, which haue great burninge, fylthe. or heate: and fynally, all the paynes of the ioyntes.

Of Egges come all foules, saue Barnacles, which are ingendered of the marueilous worke of Occean Sea: Read Gesnerus, of the nature of Foules. The horrible Serpent called the Cockat [...]ise, is bred in the Egge: so is the Crocodile, and many moe Serpentes, and many fyshes of the sea, Egges of ser­pentes. and little Wormes, as the Antes. And thus I do end of egges, whose yolkes or red­des be fyrst bread, within the Foules body [...]s, as it doth appere when they be killed, by the great plenty of the sayd yolkes and no whytes, of whiche Yolkes the byrd is bredde. and nourished of the whyte: So is mankynde ingendred, and formed of one part, and nourished of an other, Read Hippo­crates in libro de natura pueri

What vertue is in Coagulo Leporis.

THree halfe peny weight, after the old weight of the Apo­ticaryes, tempered in wyne, Coagulun or the cr [...]ddes of yong bea­stes▪ that suck and drunke doth preuayle a­gaynst venim, or pricking of Serpentes, bloudy flixes, & paynes of the matrix, after the tyme that the [...]termes menstruall be past: it helpeth conception, but to drynke it, it wil drie the Seede, and let conception. Aristotle doth remember Coagulum lib. iij cap. 12. de historia Anima ▪ saying: it is the substance of Milke, of those beastes which chew the cudde, and sucke of a curdye sub­staunce, as Calfe, Lambe. Kidd, &c. And of nature is sower and drying, and dronke with vineger, it helpeth the fallyng sicknes as Galen afyrmeth lib. x. simplic. medic.

[Page]What say you of Sepum called Tallow, and Adeps, which is fat or the grease of beastes and foules. I pray you tel me?

FIrst of Tallow, vnderstand that of nature it is warme, and therfore it hath vertue to resolue, Tallowe of male best are hotter thē the female. and make softe: and is vsed in sondry medecines, among the Chirurgians. Notwithstandyng, you must vnderstand, that one Beaste beareth more warmer tallow than an other: & the Male hotter thē y ^e fe­male As exāple, the Hart hotter then the Hind: the Ram more warmer then the Ewe, &c.

But for the fattes of beastes and byrds, they be al warme and moist: some more, and some lesse, according to their ages, fatnes, and natures, as exam­ple following shortly sayed.

The fat or grease of y ^e

• Swannes, Geese, Duckes, Bustardes. Hennes and Ca­pons, beyng fresh, doth comfort the Matrixe, breastes, and ioyntes, and are warme.
• Gelded Swyn not salted is much lyke Oyle, and moyste & good agaynst the pleuresie, and vsed in manye oyntmentes.
• Goats is harder than y ^e Swynes, & is also dryer, & is good against the pains of y ^e great guts, in Clisters or Suppositers
• Beares is warme, and melted with Laudanum, maketh an oyntment to encrease haire.
• Foxes, is good agaynst cold and palseye, and paynes of the eares.
• Porpentine agaynst baldnes, as the Bears grease is.
• Bulles and Calues doth warme, and are good to bynd and stoppe flixe, put in Clisters, oyntments &c.
• Male beastes, hotter and dryer than the female.
• Lyons is moste subtil and hotte of all fattes.
• Cattes hoate, and good, to annoynte Aches, and Goutes.
• Seales or other Seafish, clarified with Honny wil clense the iyen that are dimme
• Snayles clenseth the iyen helpeth the Cares, and is whol­some for bone ache.
• Uipers good to annoynt the dim syght, dropped into them,
• Yong lusty creatures, not salted and cleane clarifyed, is best kept close.
• Raueninge beastes hotter then them, which eate Grasse: & the water Foules, hoatter than the land byrdes.
• Wolles called Oesypus, wil resolue heat apostumations, and Struma in the throat.

What say you of Mary, which in some place is called Marthe: contayned within the bones of Beastes.

[Page 82]IT hath power to mollify, and make hard thinges soft, and of nature is hoat and moyst, as Galen sayth. lib. xi. Simplicium medicamentorum. Example.

The Mary o [...] Medulla of the

• Stagge or Hart is the best of al beasts, to mollify Muskles, ligamentes, tendons, and the guttes.
• Calues or yong Steeres is next in goodnes, vsed in sondrye oyntmentes, and linimentes.
• Bulle and Goates are very warm, and good in pessaryes for women.
• Oxe, is good for the stomacke, and the Lunges, and increaseth, seede of Generation.
• Foxe, for the palsey, and tremblyng of the memberss.
• Backe bone of beastes is dryer than other Mary, and vnpleasaunt to the stomacke, drunke with Aligante, it stoppeth the whytes in women.

Al these must be kept in cleane vessels, a loft in a chamber, w ^t Windows towardes the North. For the South wynd, or standing in vessels nere to y ^e groūd, wil soone corrupte Maryes, excepte they be clarifyed vppon the fyre, To preserue fatte. and preserued in clean closse stone or Glasse vessels.

What say you of the Gaules of beastes, or Fyshes?

THe Gaule is the most hottest and bytterest part of albeastes, the place of Choller, and choller it selfe and drye, specially in hot Bea­stes, as Lyons, wolues. Foxes, Dogges &c, Gaules of Beastes. more then of the other Beastes, which denyde the hooues. Euen so it is among foules, the croked bylled byrdes, are hottest of al next them which feed vpon weedes or seedes, and the water Foules, more then the fyeld byrdes, as Dioscori. affyrmeth- lib. iij. cap. lxxj. and are vsed in medecines as example.

The Gaul or fell of y ^e

• Scorpion of the Sea, the Sea Snaile, or suche lyke of the Sea for sore eyen.
• Whyte Cocke, & Capon, Henne, Fesant, Partrige, Doue, a­gaynst sore eyen, dropped into them.
• Crane, Osspray, for paynes in the eares, with oyle of bytter Almondes dropped into them.
• Swanne, Mallard, wyl kil wormes.
• Bull, Oxe, Cow, Goat, Ramme, good for woundes or swel­lynges, and to kyl wormes in the belly made in Plaster.
• Swyne, For vlcers in the eares.
• Beares, to annoynt the heads and nosetrels, of theym which haue the falling sicknes.

Also Gaules with Honny, and the iuice of Rue, make a good oyntmente to annoynt the belly, to kyl wormes, and helpe the Collike, and are vsed in inwarde medecines. There are stones foūd within the Gaules of Oxen & Bulles, the pouder of them dronke, wil clense the raynes and Bladder. As you may se, Matthiolus in Coment. Dioscor.. lib. ij. cap. lxxj.

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What say you of Braines

BRaynes are cold and moyst of nature, of euery beast or foule, accor­ding to their kyndes. Some not so moyst as other, as you haue had example, of heat and cold beastes: and their braynes are vsed in medecines. As example.

The braines of the

• Hare sodden or rosted are good to make young chil­drens teeth to grow
• Hennes, Capons, or Fesauntes, to bee dronke in wyne agaynst poyson, sayth, Dioscorides,.
• Wesel or Ferret, dryed, and dronk in vyneger, against the falling sicknes.
• Swallow mingled with hony, against the dinnes of the eyes.
• Shepe prepared, good to cause teeth to grow, & mol­lifyeth apostumations.
• Field birdes costed are good to nourish the brayne of man, when it is weake.
• Calfe and Pigge, not good for Flegmatike people.

What say you of Liuers?

THe liuer is the Nutrimental part, and the fountayn of Blood, a spon­gie matter, wheras the vaynes do begin, and is warme and moiste according to the nature of the animal or Beaste, and is vsed in medi­cine. As example.

The Liuer of y ^e

• Madde Dogge, rosted and eaten, helpeth him which is bitten with a madde dogge,
• Goats beyng cleane, do comfort the syght, applied raw or distilled, and is eaten to helpe the fallyng sicknes.
• Wolfe with Liuer wort dryed, maketh a goodly pouder, to helpe the liuer and lunges.
• Foxe, cleane washed and dryed doth the same.
• Asse or Horse Broyled and Eaten agaynst the fallyng Sicknes.
• Bore, both in meat and medecine, agaynst the slinging and byting of Serpentes.
• More Hen or water Henne, agaynst the stone, or grauel in the raynes.
• Henne, Capons Chikens Partrige, Fesaunt, and al field byrdes doth nourishe and comfort nature.

What say you of the Horne [...]

[Page 83] NOt much, I assure you, although many thynges maye be sayde therof, both for nature and property: I commende the discriptiō to them, that couet to be mery. Hornes theire nature. And thus much wil I say with Aristotle in lib. de natura Animalium, who sayth: al beastes wanting their vpper teeth, haue naturally hornes, for their defense: as we do see the Bull, the Hart. &c. and they are good in medecines, as example.

The horne of

• Unicorne is most excellent, to be drunke agaynste ve­nim and poyson, and helpeth the yelow Iaundice.
• Hart rased and dronk against Collike, or Iliacke, Iaū ­dice, and the bloody flyxe.
• Goats maketh good pouder to clense thee teethe, and stablish them, so doth y ^e Hartes horne.
• Bulles in pouder, dronke wyth wyne, helpeth to heale the Hemeroydes burnt in pouder.
• The Elephantes tooth wil helpe the yelowe Iaundice, rased and dronke in Endiue Water.
• Sondry monsters of the Sea, are good agaynst poison,

What say you to the Hooues of Beastes?

THey are their naturall Shooes, keping stil [...] their olde fashion▪ Hooues of Beastes whiche God hath prepared for them. For neither horse nor Oxe should be pro­fitable for mankynde, but for the Houe: without whiche he colde not goe or trauel, or haue any shoe made fast. They are also good for mankynd in, medecine, as example.

The houes of y ^e

• Horses rased are drunke in wyne, and good to helpe the fallyng sycknes.
• Asses wil do the same, and helpe the mother: burnte in perfume, sodden in Oyle, they wil help Struma.
• Goats, with Uineger and Laudanum, wil encrease hair [...] annoynting the place.
• Any beast burned▪ the smoke therof helpeth the mother, and kylleth Gnats that trouble your chamber:
• Any Beast dronke in pouder maketh women baren and fruitlesse.
• Mule, wil retayne moste stronge Poyson, or deadly ve­nime.
• Them which are deuyded in two partes, are clean bea­stes. Leuit Chap. xi.

What say you of Bones?

BOnes are the timber and strong posts which couple the body of euery liuing man, beast, fish, and foule togeather: without which we might not be perfect. If any of thē are brokē, then are we lame. Thus bones be not only good to nature when we are liuing: but ossa humana mannes bones are good in medecine. As example.

[Page]The bones of

• Man beaten into powder doe greatly dry moist hu­mours and sores. &c.
• Lions strongly smitten together, wil bryng lyght fire and are most dry of nature.
• Hogges beaten into pouder, & dronk, are good againste fallyng sicknesse.
• Hennes burnt with Egshels, made in Pouder, ma­ke a frettyng pouder.
• Pigges are good for wryting Tables, and to kyl wor­mes in the stomacke, dronke in wormwood wyne. Ma­ny sea fyshes are holesome in medecine agaynst poyson.
• Sepia or Cuttle, cold and dry wil clense the skynne▪ and Eyen.

What say you of vryne.

IT is the Whaye of the bloode, conueyghed by the raynes in­to the bladder: hoate and drye of nature, very salt accordinge to the complexion of the body that maketh it as Manne and Beaste. Foules Pysse not, for the moyster is tourned into Fethers. Aristotle de nature Animalium. vryne is vsed in Medecine. As example.

The vrine of y ^e

• Man is weakest, except gelded swyne, and is wholsome to be dronke agaynst venime.
• Yong boy, to be distilled with Litarge of Mettall, a water to wash agaynst Leprosy, is made thereof.
• Mule, to wash handes and feete, and agaynst the gout and paynes of the Ioyntes.
• Goats or Cammels, to be dronke agaynst the dropsy, or swellyng of the belly.
• Boore, with oyle of Wormwood, to annoynt the belly and kil wormes.
• Dogges wil kyl wartes, and ryngwormes.
• Urchyne, wil corrode and frette, clense, and skower cor­rupted humours.

What say you of blood?

THe lyfe of euery liuinge thinge consisteth in the vitall bloode▪ without which, the soule can not remayn within the Body, and it is vsed often tymes in medecine. As Example.

[Page 84]The bloud of y ^e

• Geese, Duckes, and Kiddes is vsed in sondry Antidotaries.
• Stock Doues, Turtle Doues, House Doues, and Partriges, is good for sore eyen, and new woundes.
• Hare, for the stone, and bloudy fly [...]e:
• Dere, for y ^e flix, or termes immoderate rūning in womē.
• Goates, which are fedde with opening herbes kylled in Iune for the stone.
• Calfe fed so, for the same stone and also the flix.
• Dragons is declared before.
• Swyne is cold blood: yet it is vsed in puddings, but not commendable.
• Beares, and Bulles, are horrible, not good.
• Shepe helpeth the Emeroides.
• Hēnes, Cockes & Capons, stoppeth blood, and woundes.
• Duckes, kepeth a goodly colour long tyme: the Idola­toures did practice therewith, dereyuynge the People at Hayles, with a Blood which they called holy.

What say you to the nature of ordure, the dung of Beastes?

ORdure or dunge, is the corruption or fylthy excrement, which nature expulceth to the earth by the office of the guttes. without whiche no creature should liue, if the dung were stil retayned, in the saide guts. and yet it is good in sondry salues, plasters, & medicines. As example. And they are hoat and drye of complexion, according to the nature of beastes,

The dung of

• Oxen and Kyne, doth mittigate inflamation of woundes, and helpeth stinging of Bees.
• Calues, soddē w ^t vineger, helpeth Struma in y ^e throat, or swelling of ioints.
• Goats, doth resolue and make soft: a plaster therof applyed to the Matrix forceth the child to the byrth.
• Horse or Mule, soddē in wyne, strayned and dronke helpeth y ^e Iaundice.
• Sheepe sodden in vineger and oyle of Roses, resolueth, quencheth and hea­leth burning and skalding.
• Dogges fed with bones, helpeth the bloody flixe, dronke in milke: with Hony, it helpeth Angina, to annoint y ^e place of the throat withall.
• Mise doth clense, and with Hony tempered togeather doth encrease haire in oyntmentes for the head.
• Swyne, clenseth, it stoppeth blood in flowing woundes.
• Curlues dronke in wyne, helpeth y ^e fallyng sicknes.
• Corocodisus of Nilus clenseth the skin, the best of this is whyte.
• Man is best in medecine, although most abhominable to the sense of smel­lyng: yet there is art to make oyle for the Gout, swelling of the throat, and to helpe Flegmon, of this ordoure of Mankynd, and a water to be dronk a­gaynste the Fallyng sicknes, Stone, and the Water betweene the Fleshe and Skynne. And finally to helpe euill complexion.
• Reade. Gal. lib. x. Simplicium medicamentorum, and Dioscorides. lib .ij. cap lxxiiij

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What say you of the Scorpion▪ Frogge, Mouse, Lasarde, Cantharides, Horseleeche and earth wormes?

THe Scorpion is a cruel woorme, whose sting wil pricke to death, Scorpion. except the oyle of Scorpions be gotten, which re­concileth the hurte, anoynting the place therwith. Also this oyle is good to anoynte the raynes, to breake the stone, Frogge and prouoketh vryne.

The Frog sodden with Salt, and cleane Oyle, and so eaten, helpeth agaynst all venime of serpentes Dioscorides. lib. ij. cap xxv

Mouse.The Mouse beyng rosted, is good to be geuen to children, that pisse their bedde, to helpe thē. Furder it wil dry vp the Fome and spattle in their mou­thes. There are sondry kyndes of Mise Aristotles. lib. vi de Historia animalium.

Lacert. Lacerta with legges, a longe tayle, an earth Serpente. The head broken and applyed to any place on the bodye, wheras eyther prick or nayle is fixed, foorth with it shal be drawen forth. This worme is muche vsed of Chirur­gens.

Cantharides are flies hoat drye, and burninge, of nature, and haue powre to blister and make issue, Cantharid. and drawe forth water: there be that wryte in their bookes of Phisicke, howe these flies maye bee dronke inwardly agaynste the Dropsy and the stone, but I dare not here commend the same, for feare of no smal peril that might followe.

Horsleech.Horseleeches are wholsome to draw forth foule blood, if they bee put into a hollow Reede, and one of their endes cut of, wherby the bloode maye run forthe.

Snayle.Snayles broken from the shelles and sodden in whyte wyne with Oyle and Sug [...]r are very holsome, because they be hoat & moist for the straight­nes of the Lungs and cold cough. Snails stamped with Comphory▪ and leuen, wil draw forth prycks in the flesh.

Earthwor­mesEarthwormes are hoat of nature and of thē is a precious ointment made to close wounds, & if they be sodden in Goose grease & strayned it is a good oyntment for to drop into a dull hearyng eare, ꝑouring it into the contrary s [...]de. Earth woormes stamped, are good for payned teeth. The Oyle of woormes is greatly commended for the comforting of the sinewes, ioints, veines and goute, Oile of wor­mes· they must be washed in whyte wyne, and the Oyles of Verbascum or Cowslops, of roses, of Lyllies, of Dil. of Camomil, al sodden to geather, when it is colde, put in your earth wormes▪ stop your glasse, let it stand xl. dayes in the Sunne, then strayn it, & it wil make an excellen [...]e oyle against ache, Sciatica, gout. &c,

Reade more of them Plini. lib xxx. cap ix. And thus I do end of Earthwoor­mes, Earth the mother of euery liuing crea­ure. which are the bowels of the ground or earth, which earth is cold, and drye of nature, yet the mother of ech liuinge wyghte, fostereth and geueth foode to euery creature, both sensible and insensible, and remayneth stil, firm and stable, and each creature hath his originall spryng, and fyrste lyfe vppon [Page 85] the earth: whan they haue run the race, some in pleasure and other some in wretchednes, the earth doth deuoure them agayne at length and swal­low them, as though they had neuer ben: Generation falleth into corruption and thus is generacion turned into corruption, as Aristotle affyrmeth. But how mightye is that Lorde God, whych wyth his blessed worde dyd for our sakes make the Earth to be our owne free dwelling place duryng thys our Mortall Lyfe, to what ende, to abuse the same, as the olde World dyd, for whose sakes he dyd de­stroy all flesh, his small chosen people excepted? No forsooth, but to vse the Earth wyth diligent trauell, in tillage, sowyng, cherishyng herbes, plants, grasse. &c. whych be Gods gyftes, both for our medicines and meate: not to dispise the sweete Creatures of God, Math, 6. whych sprynge in sundry tymes of the yeare, as flowers, fruicts, seedes, barkes, rootes, wyth conning to be pre­serued for mans vse, against the daily daunger of cruell sickenes, which as­salteth ech man, Woman, and Chyld, through the corruption of humours, and other euyll accydentes of our Life. And for as mutch as wee can not make one flower, The prouy­dence of God. neyther can gyue to any of them hys proper beautyfull shape, vertue, or sauour, whych Salomon, whan he was florishyng in his regall estate, was not comperable to any of these flowers for theyr excel­lent beauty: Psal. 103. Psal. 104. Iob. 26. Ier. 5. Gen. 3. Therfore let vs daily behold the Earth whereunto wee must once come, and also in the meane tyme, humbly laude and prayse the hyghe diuine prouidence of the almyghty our Lord and God, who hath layed the foundations of the Earth, that it should not moue at any time, and hath co­uered it wyth the deepe, lyke as with a garment, the waters doe stande betweene the Hylles, yea he sendeth hys Sprynges to the ryuers, whych runne amonge the hilles: all Beastes of the Fielde drynke thereof, and the wylde Asses doe quench their thyrst: besides them all the fowles of the ayre haue their habitacion, and singe amonge the braunches, and hee wa­treth the Lillies from the Cloudes. The earth is filled with the Fruicte of his woorkes: he bryngeth forth Grasse for the Cattell, and greene herbes for the seruyce of Mankinde, that he might brynge foode out of the earth, and Wyne that maketh glad the heart of man, and Oyle to make him a cheare­full countenaunce, & bread to strengthen his heart wythal. Wine Oyle &▪ bread, Gods giftes. The trees of the lord are ful of sap. The Trees of y ^e Lord are also full of sap, euen the trees of Libanus whych he hath plan­ted Therein the Birdes do make their nestes: & the Firre trees are a dwel­lyng for the Storke. The hygh Hylles are a refuge for the wylde Goates, and so are the stony Rockes a refuge for the Conyes. He appoynteth the Moone for certayn seasons, and the Sunne doth know hys goyng downe: he maketh darkenes, that it may be Nyght, wherein all the beastes of the Forest do moue. The Lyons roaring after theyr pray do seeke their meate at God, the Sunne aryseth, and then they get them away together, and lurke them close in the dennes. Then man aryseth, and goeth forth to hys worke, & laboureth vntill euenyng. O Lord how manifold are thy workes, in wysedome hast thou made them all. The Earth is full of thy Riches: so is the great and wyde Sea also, Psal. 92. wherein are thyngs innumerable both small and great Beastes: there sayle the Shippes, and there are g [...]eate Whales, whome thou hast made to play therein: all these creatures waight [Page] vpon thee, that thou mayst giue them, meate in due time: when thou gy­uest them, Esa. 27. Io li. xi. Psal. lxii. they gather it, and when thou openest thy hand, they are fylled wyth good thynges: when thou hydest thy face, they are troubled, when thou takest away theyr breath, they dye, and they are tourned agayn to their Dust. &c.

Euery thinge tourneth to dust.Lo here my deare brother Marcellus I do ende simplie of Simples, pray­ing thee in the meane tyme to take them in good part: waying my present case, disquietnes, and trouble. Good wyll euer was with me and shalbee to my small power, although leasour lacked, and time would not serue for the purpose: Trouble hath so hin­dred me, that I am con­strained, pre­sently to stay. but whan it shall please God that we shall talke together agayne, I wyll make amendes for all faultes escaped, GOD willing, who euer keepe thee, thine owne, Hillarius. Moreouer, behold two old friends approch at hand, the one is called Soarenes, & the other Chirurgerie. Let vs heare what they will say, a little whyle.